AUTHENTIC BOYS
The international collective Authentic Boys was founded in Altay (Siberia) in 2007 and consists of Johannes Dullin (D), Boris van Hoof (NL), Gregory Stauffer (CH) and Aaike Stuart (NL). Since then, they have worked together on several audiovisual productions.
Authentic is a term that from the beginning has served as a common means to view the world around them. Authenticity means realness, genuineness or credibility. However in our daily lives we are constantly confronted with powers from outside which in different ways become examples for us. We are frequently moving in an artificially created environment, adapt gestures and clothing styles and conform our behavior to certain standards. What does authenticity mean and what are its expressions in an environment that so strongly influences us?
The Authentic Boys work in places that represent spirit of the time, civilization, progress or perfection and by means of their infrastructural or stylistic perfection have a tremendous amount of appeal to modern day humanity. In that category, for example, fit gas stations, shopping malls, traffic isles, campsites and bungalow-parks. For the Authentic Boys these are the platforms on which contemporary communication processes and lifestyles in their most unvarnished form become visible. They resort to these places not as hidden spectators, but as actors who in a subtle yet self-willed way get in contact with them, use them and put in an accent or a counterbalance.
With their work the Authentic boys connect film and video art with physical acts and performance. Amongst others, they are currently working on the seven-screen video-installation Chakra Gang Bang and their first solo-exhibition.
