Harrison and Wood – Studio Visit | TateShots. Source: youtube.com/@Tate

Pratfall

The Call-out to Artists:

‘A man who rejoices in the misfortunes of others is not a good man’ - Wilko van Dijk and Jaap Ouwerkerk in Schadenfreude: Understanding Pleasure at the Misfortune of Others.

Schadenfreude describes the pleasure derived from another’s misfortune. For example, we can actively observe this emotion through slapstick and cartoons, or the mocking of politicians and public figures online, or online ‘fail’ videos. The humour of each example often hinges on affliction or humiliation.

What happens when we explore schadenfreude through art? What happens when we bring the humour of cartoons and slapstick into a gallery environment? An art space is perhaps the most suitable location to critically engage with the emotion as it is a space in which the experiential and the critical collide in a productive and exciting way.

Arguably, this emotion is largely misunderstood. It is interesting to consider why we may feel this emotion (especially when it feels more pressing to explore schadenfreude in contemporary society, as the internet seems to be a breeding ground for the emotion). Repressing it and pretending we do not engage does not deny its existence. The fact that we do not even have an English translation for ‘schadenfreude’ indicates a deliberate ignorance of its prevalence.

What does schadenfreude say about us? Is the emotion essential or repressible? Could it provide a vital means of self-reflection and self-correction, or a tool for bonding with our peers?

Ellie Thompson, The Good Times Are Killing Me. Courtesy of the artist.

David Shrigley, I used to surf but then I got eaten by a shark. Source: archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/29/magazine/look-david-shrigley.html

Theresa Rothe, If I Keep Up This Pace I Will Arrive Early. Source: theresarothe.com

Curator Ellie Thompson

Curated by Ellie Thompson

Ellie Thompson is an artist currently practicing in the South-West. Since graduating from The Ruskin School of Art in 2022, Ellie has exhibited a host of hapless characters across Oxford, London, Bristol, Rugby and Bath.

Ellie's interest in schadenfreude, anatomy and a cartoonish sense of humour informs each of her soft sculptures. Her puppet-like characters are at once extinct and alive, forever stuck in a sticky situation.

insta @Ellie.flt_

Submission deadline: Friday 12th April at 23h59 GMT

Media accepted: All media.
Free submission. All are welcome to apply, of any age, status, and from anywhere in the world.
If selected, we ask Artists for a £22 contribution (like crowdfunding) and/or to give some of their time, as we are all volunteers. Please read our FAQs here to find out more.
See all 20 projects open to submissions on our home page: fringeartsbath.co.uk

Fringe Arts Bath Festival will take place 24 May to 9 June 2024

To submit your work: please email the Curator pratfall@fringeartsbath.co.uk including:

NB: please include the exhibition / project name in the email title.
max 200 words about your work and how it fits the call-out (written, audio file, video or another way to suit you).
some images of the work, or links to video / performance work (or existing work if it hasn’t been made yet).
any relevant links, if you have them (though it’s not a requirement and Curators might not have the capacity to visit them all).
of course please include any questions you have.
you might not hear back from Curators until after the deadline, thank you for your patience.