Instant Theory

In the 1980s an almost boundless interest in philosophical, aesthetic and emancipation-oriented theories developed. At this time, the West Berlin-based Merve Verlag was a meeting point for intellectual and artistic exchange - a network that was captured by the publishers Heidi Paris and Peter Gente in numerous spontaneously taken photographs. The booklet accompanying the exhibition collects memories of this network and of the work in the former Merve Kollektiv, essays on art and theory, on noise music in Southeast Asia, and interviews on political issues of publishing in the USA and Germany. With contributions from: Project group instant theory, Heidi Paris, Christophe Charles, Cedrik Fermont, Dimitri della Faille, Sigrid Vagt, Chris Kraus, Annette Weisser, Clemens-Carl Härle.