In the presence of absence
The sleeping and the waking of the twelve elves
In the aftermath of a global pandemic, we are more attuned to the space between performance and testimony, between presence and absence. The saturation of digital images and information has alienated us from the world and from each other. What does it mean to watch and bear witness in these times of war and regimes? What could a call to action mean or what could it look like in a world that has become desensitized by voyeuristic tendencies and mediated content production?
With this question in mind, Andreas Ullrich (Germany) brought Ajit Bhadoriya (India) and Otto Snoek (The Netherlands) together for a collaboration that had to be entered into without reservation. A trialogue in space, time, and resources to arrive at something like an instant Gesamtkunstwerk that evolves, is responsive, and is alive. Their three rhythms form a generative force.
Artist 1 presents an unfiltered reality with an observant gaze, in which a sense of collective identity, or the lack thereof, preoccupies humanity.
Artist 2 introduces the Conceptual Filter, which makes us think about reproduction, transformations, and the need to recontextualize images. The layer of abstraction gives the viewer space for critical examination of how we consume media and images.
Artist 3 stands for the precious human connection, the intimate, the empathetic. His images allude to what it means to be at home and what it means to be displaced.
Find out more:
Website: andreasullrich.com goethe.de
Instagram: @c.rockefellergroup