Situative Systeme

Marcus Ahlers and Susanne Britz

Curated by Peter Hock and Dr. Martin Steffens

The Kunstverein Neukölln / kunstraum t27 is presenting a three-part exhibition series exploring the relationship between natural sciences and contemporary art. With the recent announcement of the discovery of the Higgs boson, often referred to as the "God particle," public interest in the results and methods of natural sciences has surged dramatically. The images and metaphors constructed by humans to explain chemical and physical phenomena have always influenced the imagination of both laypeople and researchers. For instance, we cannot truly conceive of an atom beyond its representation as a model. Thus, the explanatory images created by humans shape our perception and understanding of a reality that is, in fact, almost unimaginable, as well as the development of new models of thought and approaches.

It is no surprise that many artists also draw on the power of scientific images and methods to articulate their own explanations of nature and existence, often venturing into the metaphysical realm.

Artworks can serve as explanatory models for ideas and processes that help visualize thoughts or connections, thereby clarifying and making them tangible. The "experimental setup," as a fundamentally scientific method of inquiry, is the focus of the first exhibition module, Situative Systeme.

Marcus Ahlers has found a personal approach to the natural sciences through his artistic practice, which he is currently pursuing in a second degree. In his artistic works, he constructs and realizes intricate yet aesthetic apparatuses made from household electronics, often involving electrolytic processes. His work primarily focuses on "systems," which can be applied to both science and society.

Susanne Britz constructs a complex web of relationships among matter, dynamics, and the possibility of tracing multifaceted connections using often found materials. Site-specific installations undergo a multi-stage process of reproduction. Photos of experimental setups are digitally manipulated and sometimes recontextualized within spatial arrangements. These "world-explanation models" can be understood more intuitively than cognitively, inviting personal interpretation rather than asserting universal theses.

Opening: Friday, September 21, 2012, at 7:30 PM