Colectivo

 

The postulate “the best of all possible worlds” by German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz elicited hefty discussions and controversy among the philosophers of his own time. This seemingly absurd statement stands as a point of departure for the artistic inquiries by this provocative group from Germany. In the exhibition in the cave of the Palácio Pombal they present works in photography and video that critically deal with an ideal or idolized world. The “Idyll” today is not an anachronism or an artefact from a time long gone; it is first and foremost a critical aspect of the present, a Utopia that serves as a façade for our every desire. The urban environment of today, however, is all the time more charged with negative associations and feelings. The masses no longer stand for

protection, but on the contrary, as a threat. Anonymity hardly resembles freedom, but solitude and distrust. The growing speed of our society is evidenced by agitation and stress. The modern is perceived as noise, pollution and, for many people, simply as danger. The image of nature is closely linked to the definition of the Idyll, but today does not offer any romantic escape. The fragmentation of space leads to the search for a new safety. On these grounds, even in the urban environment, new niches for our desires are possible to be created or found. Looking to the contemporary imagination in natural ideals or urban niches, the often-nostalgic remembrances of the past are visibly clear. The “best of all possible worlds” of today seems to emerge as a grey area between illusion and broken Idyll. 

 

BETTINA LOCKEMANN

Unbestimmtes terrain, 2009

(Território indefinido / Undefined territory)

 

CLAUDIA FISCHER

Crisalida, 2008-2011

 

ELLEN BORNKESSEL

The Happy Ones, 2007

 

JANA SEEHUSEN

Endlich diese wirklichkeit, #1: der tanz, 2006

(Finalmente esta realidade / Finally this reality)

 

JENS LUSTRAETEN

In Sicherheit, 2010

(Em segurança / Safe)

 

RUTH HOMMELSHEIM

Urban atlas, 2005

 

SABINE SCHRUNDER

Das versprechen, 2007

(A promessa / The promise)

 

SUSANNE HUTH

Parkour / Boulevard Périphérique, 2010

 

ULRIKE LUDWIG

Marmeladenkochmaschine, 2009

Apfelsortieranlage, 2009

 

UTA NEUMANN

Zwischen der stadt, 2006/2008

(Entre a Cidade/ Between the City)

 

WERNER HUTHMACHER

Scape, 2008