Viktoria Binschtok / Andreas Grahl
24 Feb - 31 Mar 2007
Viktoria Binschtok / Andreas Grahl
"One bear, one elephant, and three people on the phone"
24 February - 31 March 2007
Viktoria Binschtok finds her motives in public space. Following her intuition she seeks and finds symmetries of collective behavior patterns of everyday life, whose existence otherwise seems to go unnoticed. Only by the subjective sequencing of single observations to a series contexts reveal that all of a sudden render meaning to ostensibly trivial situations. The title – “three people on the phone” – of her current cycle of b/w-silkscreen already discloses the quintessential content. We are observing people who are busy – sometimes fussily, sometimes bored, individually or in a crowd – with texting messages or being on the phone. At first, it seems unspectacular, yet their composure, mimic and gesture reflect the complete kaleidoscope of emotions. Obviously the mobile phone appears to be as much a personal sheet anchor as a necessary connection to the outside world. But the question of how and why these constellations of three have formed remains unanswered between conspiracy theory and mere coincidence.
Andreas Grahl has his own point of view on causal connections in everyday life. His sculptures and installations confront the spectator with the illusion of familiarity, just in order to trigger an even more lasting effect of surprise. His toy figure-like bronze sculptures seem to be put together according to completely different aesthetic principles than indicated in the classical construction kit – and therewith work as ‘classical’ sculpture in the exhibition space. Similarly, a steel spiral staircase put upside-down does not invite for climbing anymore. The staircase is somehow easier to cope with by regarding it as borer cap that has screwed through ceiling and floor and is now stuck. The obvious mistake in the construction turns into calculated intervention and random arrangements into essential components of the sculptural formation process.
Opening hours: Tue. - Sat. 11-18 h
"One bear, one elephant, and three people on the phone"
24 February - 31 March 2007
Viktoria Binschtok finds her motives in public space. Following her intuition she seeks and finds symmetries of collective behavior patterns of everyday life, whose existence otherwise seems to go unnoticed. Only by the subjective sequencing of single observations to a series contexts reveal that all of a sudden render meaning to ostensibly trivial situations. The title – “three people on the phone” – of her current cycle of b/w-silkscreen already discloses the quintessential content. We are observing people who are busy – sometimes fussily, sometimes bored, individually or in a crowd – with texting messages or being on the phone. At first, it seems unspectacular, yet their composure, mimic and gesture reflect the complete kaleidoscope of emotions. Obviously the mobile phone appears to be as much a personal sheet anchor as a necessary connection to the outside world. But the question of how and why these constellations of three have formed remains unanswered between conspiracy theory and mere coincidence.
Andreas Grahl has his own point of view on causal connections in everyday life. His sculptures and installations confront the spectator with the illusion of familiarity, just in order to trigger an even more lasting effect of surprise. His toy figure-like bronze sculptures seem to be put together according to completely different aesthetic principles than indicated in the classical construction kit – and therewith work as ‘classical’ sculpture in the exhibition space. Similarly, a steel spiral staircase put upside-down does not invite for climbing anymore. The staircase is somehow easier to cope with by regarding it as borer cap that has screwed through ceiling and floor and is now stuck. The obvious mistake in the construction turns into calculated intervention and random arrangements into essential components of the sculptural formation process.
Opening hours: Tue. - Sat. 11-18 h