The Princess | Exhibition in the 23rd Nidbach Series

Between 1973 and 1975, Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader created a series of works entitled In Search of the Miraculous, in which he made himself and his body an object of study, while exploring tensions between control and surrender. Ader ended up a legend, when his sailboat was swallowed by the ocean while attempting to cross the Atlantic alone on his way to the opening of an exhibition of his works in Europe. Almost 50 years later, May Elimelech is looking for love, seeking a serious partner for a meaningful relationship. She produces a reality dating game show based on the “The Bachelorette.” She puts herself in the role of the protagonist and through the app casts a group of real bachelors. The format is well known and hackneyed, but at this point the artist steps back and takes on the role of the protagonist, letting the format handle the work. It is a quintessential Bas Jan Ader move. We are confronted with a moment of falling in slow motion, without the ability to control the situation. Is it a narcissistic exercise fulfilling a childhood dream, or an authentic attempt to harness a search for love for the purpose of producing a new work of art?