Geometry without Borders

Galerie im Turm, Baden, Austria,
June 2021

In this particular time, when closing are not only the borders between countries, but also the ones between municipalities, this exhibition carries a very significant title, which includes the words “without borders” / “ohne Grenzen”. At the given moment it became clear that it is the artists of all varieties who are at the same time the ones who are at the forefront when something critical has to be said, even if not verbally, on the subject of the recent situation and occurrences, which are also to blame that the exhibition of the members of the Fine Artists Society Kranj – ZDSLU, has not already taken place last year. This exhibition, although it is not a part of this socially critical part of art, is a token of what is the first thing that is set aside when a difficult situation arises in society. Creativity. This at the same time makes a person’s life meaningful and enables not only physical but also spiritual survival, while in our case also enables at least some individuals to connect – fine artists from two neighboring nations, even though an artist in this recent situation is hungry more often than not.

The precise reason why not even two years ago this sort of exhibition title was set, I still cannot determine, as the general public at that time was not even aware of the so-called pandemic yet. I think it was an instinctive response, not wanting unnecessary restrictions, but instead a peaceful cohabitation and one looking for a connection with a fellow human being who, unfortunately, in the current situation, is suddenly on the other side of the “border” (“fence”). Also in the figurative meaning of separation of human from human.

As authors at the exhibition, we are very different from each another, as is our artistic expression. And that’s all right, even though more uniformity would give the exhibition more weight. The starting point for the selection was after all not uniformity but respect for individuality, which can also deviate from general standards. This is all the more important as, especially in this time, we have to, at least in the field of art, respect originality, peculiarity, uniqueness (of the moment). This is exactly why all the authors, who at least in some extent met the criteria of the topic concerning geometry, were given this opportunity.

Which is why in our case the word geometry should not necessarily be taken as an abstraction, a symbol, a narrowing of the artistic expression to an intangible level, which ignores everything which is not essential for understanding the artistic motif. This is why on the one hand, a rational, as in thoughtful approach is taken into account, and on the other hand, an intuitive perception of the world, which is also at the heart of art and which distinguishes it from the everyday, that is, from the ordinary. Geometry can thus be manifested in a detail, a structural fragment (of nature), in the way nature is expressed, or perhaps in the thoughtful placement of composition elements on the artistic surface. (Apparent) disorder is a part of our everyday life and perfection in the imperfection of nature, as a part of life, living, they are also manifested in some artistic compositions, which as such approach the inner order and balance that we so crave at the moment. So let the artistic solutions be quite different from each other, but as equal as possible.

dr. Peter Marolt, exhibition selector

(translation in English: Eva Grce)