Das Ende der Zeit

Inspired by the life story of Olivier Messiaen—a French composer who was imprisoned for nine months in Stalag VIII A in Görlitz from 1940 to 1941—the artist Krzysztof Furtas explores the theme of freedom in art in connection with personal freedom.

Olivier Messiaen left a profound impression of the constant state of suffering and despair during his captivity and how he was able to break through this harsh reality by performing an extraordinary work, the Quartet for the End of Time (Quatuor pour la fin du temps), on January 15, 1941, along with three fellow prisoners.

Krzysztof Furtas interprets this act of creation as a form of escape into freedom, which further aids his own understanding of art.