What is the role of art in modern industrial societies? On the one hand, it is fundamentally linked to the socio-economic drivers of these societies, and is inherently tied to the economic sphere. On the other hand, in the secular context of industrial societies art also advances to become a proxy for that which goes beyond a given reality, creating a connection to “higher spirits”, channeling quasi-transcendent, quasi metaphysical forms of meaning. It is this hybrid, if you will, ontologically ambiguous status of the artistic object that—in various ways—resonates in the works of the invited contemporary artists.
The group show High Spirits is curated by Dorothea von Hantelmann and features works by two of Galerie Thomas Schulte’s represented artists, Franka Hörnschemeyer and Julian Irlinger. Other artists on view include Martin Boyce, Etienne Chambaud, Isa Melsheimer, Jenna Sutela, Alain Urrutia, and Sandra Vásquez de la Horra.
The opening of the exhibition will take place on Wednesday, 13 September 2023, 3 to 8 pm.
