There is Hope
Martin Assig, Alice Dittmar, Stella Geppert, Kerstin Grimm, Halina Hildebrand, John Isaacs,
Dirk Lange, Jakob Mattner, Felix Rehfeld, Dennis Scholl, Gabriela Volanti, Sandra Vasquez de
la Horra, Sofiia Yesakova
curated by Erika Schlessinger–Költzsch
Programme
Vernissage
Sat 12 April 6 – 9 pm
with a performance by Stella Geppert & friends at 7 pm
during Gallery Weekend
Fri 2 May – Sun 4 May daily 2 – 7 pm
with
FRIDAY BIRD Picnic
Sat 3 May 2 – 5 pm
Edible sculpture
Melina Matzanke & Aline Schwörer
Performance
Sat 3 May 5 pm
Stella Geppert & friends
Finissage
Sat 10 May 5 – 8 pm
Artist Talk 6 pm
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In a time like ours, security concepts in Western democracies are faltering. More than 80 years after World War II and 5 years after COVID-19, the fear of global catastrophes is rising once again, manifesting on all levels. The extinction of species, climate disasters, environmental pollution, wars, and famines around the globe, and as a consequence, displacement, flight, poverty, diseases, and ecological exploitation are present worldwide. Furthermore, differences in religion, politics, ideology, identity, and social status are gaining a new, exclusionary significance. Being different is perceived as a threat and is further fueled by targeted propaganda.
We are heading towards the polarization or even the division of entire societies, with a tendency to abandon democratically elected representation in favor of tightly controlled far-right and far-left factions. Fake news dominates our information landscape. Now, more than ever, we need to reflect on what truly matters to us as human beings—what defines us as a community and what we live for. We must begin to name injustices instead of turning a blind eye; we need to raise our voices, ask bold questions, and think constructively about possible solutions. For this, we need hope and confidence in existence and the future. All of this seems more relevant than ever. Our exhibition project addresses these themes and questions. Those who are creative hold onto hope. An artwork can and should be understood by its viewers as a tool for reflecting on their own position. While artists also grapple with everyday existential questions, desires, and problems, art takes place in a realm that often feels beyond the ordinary for most people. The topic of hope is fundamentally human and existential, creating a bridge between life and art.
Visual art is always embedded in its socio-political context. It inherently reflects social and political conditions without needing to be explicitly political or to be used as a tool for political propaganda. Artists intensely feel the pulse of the times and can seismographically capture the tremors of our existence, the challenges of the Anthropocene, and the turmoil of war and social strife. They know how to creatively engage with these realities, which confront all people as disturbing and thought-provoking, and thereby contribute to the collective discourse. One of the main concerns of the artistic leadership is the intergenerational selection of artists. This not only promotes artistic exchange and dialogue but also fosters socio-cultural connections. The 13 artists bring together insights from diverse backgrounds, enabling a broad discourse on hope. Such a space for discourse is no longer a given in light of the current global political and social developments and the resulting differences in opinion. There is Hope aims to challenge the notion that art takes place in an ivory tower.
