Tag: exhibition

After reading the article based on exhibition experiences within late 20th century Germany, I came to ask myself what works better for the art: including touch or not including touch? It is well known about Germany’s history under strict dictatorship rule throughout many centuries including only years before this article was discovered. During the end of the century, Germany took a new step towards freedom and began inheriting new waves of contemporary art within their lifestyle. Music became more experimental, and life found a new sense of freedom. However with the Berlin Wall still standing until 1989 Berlin still held a strict divide within society- highlighting an everlasting presence and control from the government. The debate of whether viewers were allowed to touch the art still tells me that western Germany still held a strong control over society’s actions. During Sehen und Hören, Josef Haubrich- Kunsthalle, Cologne 1974. They presented their work in a clinically white room with sealed windows- allowing no exposure from the outside world. The article states it “allegedly allows optimal concentration on their perception”. This feels to me as if the viewers were being forced to view the art in a certain way. Art is ambiguous and can sometimes be vague. People’s perceptions are based on their positionality and life context. The art should speak thousands of languages and meanings – dependent on the viewer and what their life had entailed. By shutting out any other influence stimulates a strict and regimented environment which contrasts the idea of a new, free Germany. Its militant environment mirrors the dictatorship past; allowing no flexibility during the exhibition. On the other hand, this could be viewed in another light. By blocking out any outside life during the exhibition could allow the opportunity for the viewer to forget existing oppression and current social ills happening in the outside world. Boycotting existing life can almost create a sense of calm and focus to experience the exhibition to its full potential. To me, the contrast between the white walls and the art almost creates a sense of divide – mirroring Berlin’s current state due to the Berlin Wall and the divide between Eastern and Western Germany. The art represents a sense of freedom away from strict rule juxtaposing the other side of the wall where rigid dictatorship rule was still held in place. These restrictions within the gallery could have had a greater effect and shown to the viewer what they would have seen outside anyway. They do the work for the windows meaning they’re not needed almost making it an immersive experience. Despite the fact, they didn’t want to do that.

Thinking about my future work, I will make the decision whether or not to incorporate touch within my piece. As already discussed earlier in my blog, I can clearly see the benefits of incorporating other senses to highlight the sound. However, I do believe that what senses you include is entirely down to the theme and focus of the piece. I will go away and think about my up and coming performance and decide whether I should or shouldn’t include this.