"Something for Everyone"

This DVD is a 30-minute narrative about a UPS man’s frustrating day. Early in the morning, a cell phone interrupts Ken Kenwood’s breakfast. Ken’s boss tells him that because his truck has broken down, he must do his usual using only a hand truck. With each delivery, Ken’s day goes from bad to worse. Moreover, each stop brings a new encounter laced with sexual expectation. Nothing, however, works out. Ken asks almost all the various characters he meets for something to drink. If invited in, his next step is to play a song by the Sweet on his customers’ stereos.

Thematically, the story depicts a consumer society in which people and things trade places. Ken’s operative identity boils down to a brown uniform and a gold logo. His sex appeal is linked to his recognizability, which is that of a brand name. “Something for Everyone” is also a portrait of Vienna’s 2nd District; the story begins and ends at the Praterstern, the portal to Eastern Europe.

Hoeck and Miller drew their inspiration from a variety of sources, ranging from Wenders, Fassbinder, Tati and Ackerman to “window washer” porn and Benny Hill. Working in close cooperation with their producer, Bernhard Riff, the two spent four years writing, filming and editing this video. Through a conscientious and restrained performance, Andy Noble brought the character of Ken Kenwood to life. Hoeck and Miller also thank Kurt Mayer for his invaluable camera work and technical assistance.

Parallel to the exhibition at the Engholm Engelhorn Galerie, “Something for Everyone” is also being screened at Metro Pictures, New York and at Jeffrey Charles Gallery, London.

Richard Hoeck was born in 1965 born in Hall /Tirol.
Some of his recent solo shows were "A Country Lane", Kerstin Engholm Galerie, Vienna (2002/2003), “Lobby in Rear”, Mackey - Apartment Garage, L.A. (2001/2002), “The Additional Bedroom“, Galerie für zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig on the occasion of the Blinky-Palermo-Award 1999 (2000), “Hard Hat“ (with John Miller) Kunstwerke Berlin, Berlin (1999), "Belly Dancer für Martin“, Mamco, Musée d´Art Moderne et Contemporaine (1998).

John Miller was born in 1954 in Cleveland/ Ohio.
Some of his recent solo shows were “The Middle of the Day”, MAMCO, Geneva (2004), “493 KB From the Administered World”, Jeffrey Charles Gallery, London (2004), “A Mutually Beneficial Encounter”, Galerie Christian Nagel, Cologne (2003), “Topographie für ein Museum“ (Ohne Wände), Kunstraum Johann Widauer, Innsbruck (2002), “Hard Hat“ (with Richard Hoeck) Kunstwerke Berlin, Berlin (1999).

For further information on the exhibition please contact Kerstin Engholm or Angela Krapf at +43 1 585 73 37.