The tumultuous 1960s have left two trails in art- and cultural history: Psychedelia and Conceptualism. Today Psychedelia – art and other expressions that arose out of the impulse to expand human consciousness – is associated with drug use, the sub- or counterculture, and experimental music, while Conceptualism – visual art in which the central element is the idea – is almost synonymous with high art. In the 1960s the two artistic movements were close to one another, but they are now often seen as opposites. The desire for the orgiastic momentum would seem to be difficult to unite with a striving for the pure idea. But are those perceptions correct? And how do artists today deal with this double legacy of the 1960s, consciously or intuitively?

The exhibition When Elephants Come Marching In: Echoes from the Sixties in Today's Art by guest curator Mark Kremer investigates the ongoing influence that these two art complexes still have in contemporary Western art. Artists today activate a turbulent inheritance; and in their efforts Psychedelia and Conceptualism are once again united. The show brings together works from 14 artists, ten of which have made work especially for this exhibition. The proverbial core of the show consists of presenting a small work-ensemble of the late Walter De Maria, someone who stands for a legendary generation of artists who put their mark on the 1960s.

Initial research for this exhibition was done in 2 MA-workshops focusing on art and ideas of the 1960's at the DAI (Dutch Art Institute), Enschede, during the academic years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

Curator Mark Kremer.

Among the participating artists, DAI alumni Chiara Fumai (IT), Taf Hassam (UK/NL), Hidenori Mitsue (JP/NL), Emilio Moreno (ES/NL)and Mu Xue (CN/NL).

Other artists: Melanie Bonajo (NL), Boyle Family (UK), Hugo Canoilas (PT/AT), Walter De Maria (USA, 1935-2013), Carl Michael von Hausswolff (SE), gerlach en koop (NL), Jan van de Pavert (NL), Roland Schimmel (NL) and Michael Stubbs (UK).

More about the exhibition at De Appel 

More about the project Good Trip Bad Trip at the DAI : 

http://dutchartinstitute.eu/page/3110/ohlkon-island-2010-good-trip-bad-trip-to-siberia

http://dutchartinstitute.eu/page/700/2008-2009-goodtripbadtrip-1-curated-and-tutored-by-mark-kremer