Wait, where did I leave my keys? at DREI

Artists: Julie Becker, Colin Cardinal, Bill Hayden, Tam Ochiai, Joanne Robertson, John Sandroni, Bernadette Van-Huy, Wolfgang Voigt

Exhibition title: Wait, where did I leave my keys?

Conceived by: Whitney Claflin

Venue: DREI, Cologne, Germany

Date: November 16, 2022 – January 28, 2023

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and DREI, Cologne

“I live my life in the city
There’s no easy way out
The day’s moving just too fast for me
I need some time in the sunshine
I’ve gotta slow it right down
The day’s moving just too fast for me
I live my life for the stars that shine
People say it’s just a waste of time
When they said I should feed my head Well, that to me was just a day in bed
I’ll take my car and drive real far
You’re not concerned about the way we are In my mind my dreams are real
Now you’re concerned about the way I feel Tonight, I’m a rock ‘n’ roll star”

-Noel Gallagher

To Whom It May Concern:

I don’t tend to misplace my keys. It happened recently, however, I left them at a bar a few months ago. Got them back no problem a few days later. It wasn’t that big of an issue- my front door has a digital entry code, and my boyfriend let me borrow his unit key until I could get mine back. Simple.

It’s nice only having two keys: front door, unit door. No keys for a place of work, no car keys, no keys for anyone else’s place. Just two keys.

I don’t have much to say about this exhibition, except that these artists have informed me and inspired me, kind of like keys to my brain.

While installing this exhibition, I locked myself out of the gallery for two whole hours. Ironic!

I hope you can enjoy the works in this show as much as I do. There are some lovely tangential visual coincidences, but I’m loath to spell them out, or explain anything further.

Thank you, Whitney Claflin

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

John Sandroni, Chrystie Street, 2022, Oil on canvas, 152 × 127 cm

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Wolfgang Voigt, The Rolling Stones, 2018, felt pen and collage on paper. Set of five works, each (except of one: 28 x 30 cm): 28 × 21 cm, Dimensions variable

Wolfgang Voigt, The Rolling Stones, 2018, felt pen and collage on paper. Set of five works, each (except of one: 28 x 30 cm): 28 × 21 cm, Dimensions variable

Wolfgang Voigt, The Rolling Stones, 2018, felt pen and collage on paper. Set of five works, each (except of one: 28 x 30 cm): 28 × 21 cm, Dimensions variable

Wolfgang Voigt, The Rolling Stones, 2018, felt pen and collage on paper. Set of five works, each (except of one: 28 x 30 cm): 28 × 21 cm, Dimensions variable

Wolfgang Voigt, The Rolling Stones, 2018, felt pen and collage on paper. Set of five works, each (except of one: 28 x 30 cm): 28 × 21 cm, Dimensions variable

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Tam Ochiai, Fort Worth Locarno (Patricia Highsmith), 2014, Oil on canvas, 84 × 53 cm

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Joanne Robertson, Press Onto, 2021, Oil on canvas, 180 × 150 cm

Bill Hayden, Untitled, 2022, YouTube channel on television, mounting bracket, remote control with silicone sleeve

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Julie Becker, Untitled (mirror drawing), 2004, Mixed media on paper, 43 × 35,5 cm, 55 × 47,5 × 4 cm (framed)

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

John Sandroni, Chrystie Street 2, 2022, Oil on canvas, 152 × 127 cm

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Colin Cardinal, Untitled (La Barceloneta), 2022, Inkjet print on Baryta, 15 × 20 cm, 28 × 33 cm (framed)

Colin Cardinal, Untitled (La Barceloneta), 2022, Inkjet print on Baryta, 15 × 20 cm, 28 × 33 cm (framed)

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Joanne Robertson, Stranger Day, 2021, Oil on canvas, 180 × 150 cm

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Bernadette Van-Huy, Perm (#12), 2022, Pencil and inkjet print on paper framed: 32,6 × 24 cm

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Wait, where did I leave my keys?, 2022, exhibition view, DREI, Cologne

Tam Ochiai, To say good bye is to die a little, 2017, Oil and ashtrays on board, 48 × 53,5 cm