Die Wilden by Lars Theuerkauff in OVR

Theuerkauff's current series "Die Wilden" (The Wild Ones) plays with rites and rituals of growing up. The end of childhood is marked by a series of portraits of toy monkeys the artist found in the e-bay classifieds; formerly appreciated gifts whose value has been lost over the years and whose final task is to fetch the best possible price. It appears as if the soulfulness of childhood is still written on their faces.
On the other hand, a horde of children and young people climb around in trees wearing balaclavas. Here, Theuerkauff processes some of the most disturbing images from the Internet in recent years. In the manner of a video game, the IS sent its offspring, also masked with balaclavas, into cave labyrinths in which tied up delinquents waited for their deaths, at the hands of children. The artist mirrors this motif into our world. Pausing in the light- hearted game, 'our children' look the viewer in the face. When we see children in works of art we realize the future is being negotiated.