Switch

Switch focuses on the principle of reversibility. What seems very simple and direct takes on an unexpected meaning that is sometimes completely opposite to our initial impression of a work. In this sense, the exhibition distances itself from an overly documentary approach within contemporary visual arts, while simultaneously building on the achievements of this trend. Thus, some works may initially appear purely documentary, but added notions of fear, power, beauty, etc., provide a different perspective. The interest in society, the self and the other, and the political is never shown directly, but rather theatrically with references to, among other things, set design and fashion. The starting point is the conviction that our society has a great need for a new flow of metaphors and a greater degree of unpredictability.

The so-called ‘Butterfly Effect,’ first described by meteorologist and mathematician Edward Lorenz, is certainly an important source of inspiration. Lorenz discovered that the predictability of the weather is not proportional to the amount of information collected. The degree of unpredictability was expressed in his assertion that a butterfly flapping its wings on one side of the world could potentially cause a tornado on the other side.

A significant undertone in this exhibition is also the necessity for social engagement, which sometimes requires a change of mentality. The realization that a 2 euro coin may have little value here, but can make a significant difference for a development project in the Third World, is also an example of a ‘switch.’ Therefore, alongside the exhibition, there is the so-called Switch project and a collaboration with UNICEF, both aimed at raising funds for specific development projects.