An exhibition entitled ›With — People‹ - what does one expect?
The exhibition was originally going to be titled HUMAN. While pronounceable in both English and German and aimed at the core of the exhibition, this title ultimately didn't quite capture the essence of what we wanted to show you. And then, during the preparation phase for this group show, our title suddenly emerged: Fellow Human Beings. With Human Beings. And that's it.
Whether grotesque hybrid creatures, delicate figures, grand gestures, mysterious forms, open faces, strong poses, loud tones, clear hints, quiet sounds, indistinct statements, realistic depictions with all the details, the great joy over a new life, the contented contemplation of one's own well-tended garden, the capturing of a scene of a world in which beginning and end are not fixed constants, free and fluid.
Life and death, dream and reality, playing with the viewer's perception, dancing on the border between reality and illusion.
A lack of context, mounting questions, developing tensions. Personal opinion, political stance, inner convictions, whether expressed aloud or murmured softly, aggression, anger, peace, nature. The highly symbolic gesture.
Love. Love of others. Self-love.
Closeness. An embrace. What a heartfelt gesture. Peace and security. An outstretched hand, receiving and giving. Light.
And then, directly opposite: somber facial features, dark backgrounds, mysterious and disturbing scenes. Enigmatic visual elements.
That was a lot of buzzwords. And I'm sure that every single one of you flinched at one or two of them, had an association, or got a picture in your mind.
Art can stimulate. Art can also be challenging. Art can delight, but also be uncomfortable. Today, we don't just see buttercups and pale blue clouds. We also see uncomfortable truths that frighten us if we allow ourselves to engage with them, that disturb us if we are honest with ourselves. Truths that leave us in the dark. And yet, we see a hand being offered to us, we feel arms holding us. We find comfort and hope in everyday scenes, in joy and happiness.
Many of the works on display here share the theme of the void. It is up to YOU to fill that void with your thoughts!
What brings to mind? The full spectrum of humanity, presented here in excerpts, by five artists from Munich, Berlin, Spain, and Bulgaria. Different techniques, nuanced perspectives, cultural divergences. And despite all the differences these five wonderful individuals reveal, it's also about what unites us all: humanity and togetherness. An exhibition by people, about people, for people.
