Following their first anniversary festivities the wonderful Spektrum artspace in Neukölln presents another of their excellent monthly exhibitions.
The “States of Matter” exhibition seeks dimensions of meaning and beauty by unfolding nature’s innermost secrets. Visual concepts such as light, color, materiality and movement are reinvented through plasma physics, fluid dynamics, low temperature crystallisation, and experiments testing the chemical origins of life. The four classical states of matter (solid, liquid, gas and plasma) are the subjects of the artworks selected for this exhibition, each redefining the interrelation between phenomenon and observer through the integration of a new artistic language within the context of a scientific experiment.
The embodiment of artistic intent in plastic and figurative forms of representation comprises a dramatic moment in human history, defined by revolutionary processes to master matter in all its manifestations. The development of the visual arts prompted the invention of new processes to represent and interpret the artist’s reality – which has become increasingly more abstract and teeming with conceptual content. Technique (and later technology) has been a constant focus along this historical parabola. What if the proliferation of technology were navigated by an evolving understanding of the abstract nature of reality? Would not this lead to a profound shift in previously held conceptions of society? What will be the role of the artist under these circumstances? Where do the trajectories between science, technology and art intersect, or even completely blur?
The potential renaissance in question is unleashing an enormous availability of scientific and technological knowledge together with a cross-disciplinary change in perspective. Tools previously only considered useful for scientists locked away in labs have found ways to spread out. This expansion of participatory processes is characterised by hacker societies that require the initiation of a new form of art and science. The time of vertical expertise is over.
[vimeo 168911969 w=700&h=481]The “States of Matter” exhibition seeks dimensions of meaning and beauty by unfolding nature’s innermost secrets. Visual concepts such as light, color, materiality and movement are reinvented through plasma physics, fluid dynamics, low temperature crystallisation, and experiments testing the chemical origins of life. The four classical states of matter (solid, liquid, gas and plasma) are the subjects of the artworks selected for this exhibition, each redefining the interrelation between phenomenon and observer through the integration of a new artistic language within the context of a scientific experiment.
Exhibition curated by Alfredo Ciannameo. This exhibition forms part of the 48 Stunden Neukölln art festival and was made possible with the support of the Creative Industries Fund NL, Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso, the Laboratoire LaSIPS of the University Paris-Saclay and the École Polytechnique.
States of Matter
Saturday 23rd-26th June 2016
SPEKTRUMberlin | Bürknerstraße 12 | 12047 Berlin-Neukölln
spektrumberlin.de | Event @ Facebook
