Uncovering the Ordinary
Event Type:
Group exhibition
Location:
bcma gallery, Audre-Lorde-Str. 78
Date:
April 28, 2025 - May 17, 2025
Time:
7 pm – 10 pm
Screenshot
Uncovering the Ordinary
So many things have already been made and exist, and yet we continue to seek out the creation of new things. As the abundance of available materials grows, finding something truly novel can become increasingly challenging. This predicament has sparked new ways of thinking around the issue of overproduction. Concepts such as second-hand usage, recycling, and the recombination of old materials into new forms have emerged as innovative responses to this challenge. In the arts, the practice of using and reusing materials has also gained prominence.
One influential movement that embodies this approach is Arte Povera, which emerged in Italy during the late 1960s. Arte Povera, meaning “poor art,” is characterized by its use of simple, everyday materials such as earth, wood, metal, and fabric. This art movement challenges conventional notions of value and explores the relationship between nature, culture, and industrialization. Arte Povera artists sought to subvert the elitism of high art by incorporating humble, unpretentious materials into their work, thus questioning the traditional hierarchy of art materials and the concept of artistic purity.
The roots of this approach can be traced back to earlier art movements that engaged with the idea of materiality and the everyday. For instance, Dada and Surrealism in the early 20th century also explored the use of unconventional materials and the concept of the found object. Marcel Duchamp’s “readymades”, such as “Fountain” (1917), challenged the traditional notions of art by presenting ordinary objects as art simply through the act of designation.
Furthermore, the Minimalist movement of the 1960s and 70s, with its emphasis on simplicity and the essence of materials, also laid the groundwork for Arte Povera. Minimalists like Donald Judd and Carl Andre reduced art to its most basic elements, influencing the later development of Arte Povera’s focus on raw, unrefined materials. In the exhibition “Uncovering the Ordinary,” artists explore the concept of creating order out of the chaos inherent in the overwhelming range of available materials. By engaging with everyday objects and repurposing them, these artists seek to reveal new perspectives and meanings. This approach resonates with the broader historical context of art movements that have challenged established norms and embraced the transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Through their work, the artists in this exhibition not only reflect on the historical evolution of art practices but also engage with contemporary concerns about consumption and sustainability. Their efforts to uncover the significance in the mundane continue a long tradition of artistic innovation, revealing that even in an era of overabundance, there is still room for discovery and reinvention.
With:Michael Johansson
Miray Seramet
Nándor Angstenberger