forces behind the forms : geology, matter, process in contemporary art = Die Krafte hinter den Formen : Erdgeschichte, Materie, Prozess in der zeitgenossischen Kunst

The power of imagination inherent in the visualization of natural processes has, particularly in recent times, become quite topical. The broadly led discussion whether we live only in an exclusively man-made environment has raised general awareness of nature and the forces behind natural phenomena, as well as for the impact of our actions on the environment. The exhibition »The Forces behind the Forms« – a title derived from artist and geo­logist Per Kirkeby – is devoted to the examination of matter and formative processes in contemporary art. The exhibition brings together works that reflect the creative processes and formative forces in nature, translating them into artistic forms and exploring how they relate
to us. The positions presented here share a combination of scientific curiosity and will to form. The artists travel all around the world in a spirit of research and develop – using found objects and new conglomerations – a geology of our present day world; they draw microscopics that imply the macrocosmic, use geology as a language to develop our understanding of time and our relation-ship with a continually changing environment; and they find adequate forms of expression – in different artistic media – for natural evolution and growth processes, and examine the consequences of our handling of nature, matter, and thus – ultimately – of ourselves. In a quite humorous way they play with the longing for a holistic approach, with the urge to understand the world, with reverence for creation and the belief in their own creative power.