Elfo

Description

Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeep. We’ve all experienced it: that persistent sound – a buzzing, hissing or whistling – that can be heard even though there is no external source of sound. In the work of the Italian artist Elfo, tinnitus becomes a tormenting pause in the middle of the trail, halfway to the ‘Paradise’ section. By inscribing this disturbance into the carefully preserved structure of the Völklinger Hütte, Elfo resists the simple allure of beauty and instead challenges visitors to listen to a sense of unease – one that may be imagined or may have long since existed. The Italian artist Elfo belongs to a generation of urban writers who have expanded the codes of graffiti by using text as a slogan and as a minor form of sabotage. His minimalist, ironic phrases, which he writes on the walls of supermarkets, abandoned factories or cemeteries, serve as pointed commentaries on contemporary society and as subtle disruptions to a supposed urban consensus. Further along the trail, within sight of the large gorilla, you’ll find the sign ‘Moonlight prohibited’. Keep your eyes peeled!