The InterINTIME_AutoPORTRAIT is a classic theme: the self-portrait.
It appears repeatedly in art history. It leads to a personal revelation of the self. The artists put themselves on trial and offer us their reflection. The "autoPortrait" could also address or illuminate the "SEX plexus"—this is not the task, this was not a mandatory exercise. The task here is therefore twofold. It is not obligatory to reveal one's likeness, but it offers the opportunity to venture a look behind the mirror, to reveal the "INTERNA," the inner workings of the artist's psyche.
The opportunity to curate an exhibition in a former postal sorting center for contemporary art held a special appeal for me. With 11 load-bearing concrete columns and what felt like 19 doors, spread across two levels, this was one of the most challenging tasks I've faced in my 25 years as an exhibition organizer. I had to engage with the existing architecture. A color concept allowed me to convince the gallery and demonstrate an extension of the entrance area's axis. The Bordeaux red lengthens the entrance space, creating a seamless transition into the gallery complex. Two separate rooms provide sculptures with their own dedicated spaces. The phosphorescent yellow painted on the walls of the lower level makes the paintings, photographs, and works on paper stand out visually. This ensures a focused and immersive experience of each individual piece. To do justice to the artists, there was only one option: all the works to be displayed were aligned along a single line (bottom edge) and at the same height. This gave the arrangement an unintentionally museum-like quality.
I would especially like to thank all the participating artists who supported the "Salon Hansa" project with their full energy and dedication. The majority of the works come from Berlin, along with contributions from artists in satellite cities such as London, New York, Vienna, Düsseldorf, and Paris.
Thanks also to Galerie Lachenmann Art and their crew for the tremendous effort and their unwavering discipline in actually realizing this mammoth project with 92 participating artists, right up to this catalogue! — Hansa Wißkirchen
