An exhibition of contemporary artworks on the relationship between humans and nature
Maria Thereza Alves, Melanie Bonajo, Sven Johne, Volker Kreidler, Antje Majewski, Ulrike Mohr, Gabriela Oberkofler, Sonya Schönberger, Iza Tarasewicz, Lois Weinberger
Country lore stands for an intuitive, observation-based relationship between humans and nature that has been replaced by a technological understanding of nature. “Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer [One Swallow Does not Make a Summer]” is an old and widespread farmer’s saying which is deeply rooted in the empirical knowledge of generations. Relationships with nature shape our languages and cultures – but is this knowledge still valid? Can the climatic course of a summer be determined by bird migration? The contemporary artworks of the show use various media and numerous research-based works to portray the altered relationship between humans and nature and raise questions as to the future approach of human actions.
Humans are part of a natural balance, relationships to nature shape not only our language but also our cultures. The give and take between humans and their environment and the lived experiences from which country sayings, among other things, derive, are only accessible to a tiny portion of humankind anymore. The laws of nature are shifting or have been completely abolished and are being rewritten as a consequence of far-reaching interventions. The balance of these relationships is massively called into question. The landscapes and ecosystems altered through civilizational influences can only be understood as post-industrial landscapes.
In parallel to the existential threat posed to the natural balance, an awareness of the fragile habitats and economies of survival has evolved, along with new strategies and connections to “old” knowledge. What kind of orientation can be made out in this scenario?
Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer [One Swallow Does not Make a Summer] features contemporary artworks that deal with these altered conditions and explore the relationship between humans and nature. The partly exploratory, partly intuitive artistic approaches open up conceptual spaces and prompt changes in perspective.