Art and spirituality have much in common. Traditionally, artists are thought to have an exceptionally sensitive gift of perception. Even today, they address major philosophical, psychological or spiritual issues in their work. These works are all in the Berlinische Galerie’s collection and most of them are being displayed in the museum for the first time.
Image: Zora Mann, The Daughter of the Easter Egg, 2017, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 330 × 980 × 2 cm (Ausschnitt) © Zora Mann
Art and spirituality have much in common. Traditionally, artists are thought to have an exceptionally sensitive gift of perception. Even today, they address major philosophical, psychological or spiritual issues in their work. They explore inner worlds and experiment with experiences that test the boundaries of the self. Art is often created in a state of concentration or contemplation that can be compared to meditation.
Zora Mann, The Daughter of the Easter Egg, 2017, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 330 × 980 × 2 cm (Ausschnitt) © Zora Mann
The term "spirituality" derives from the Latin word "spiritus", meaning soul, breath or spirit. Breath and soul are also implicit in "inspiration". Neuroscientists believe that spirituality and religion are fundamental human needs. That probably includes art as well. People of different spiritual traditions report that meditating dissolves boundaries. It unleashes a sense of being at one with the cosmos and humanity. Similar experiences are conveyed by the works of the four artists on show here. These works are all in the Berlinische Galerie’s collection and most of them are being displayed in the museum for the first time.
Artists: Johannes Geccelli (Königsberg 1925 ‒ 2011 Jühnsdorf), Göta Tellesch (Duisburg 1932 ‒ 2013 Berlin), Eberhard Havekost (Dresden 1967 ‒ 2019 Berlin) and Zora Mann (*1979 Amersham/United Kingdom).
Wide Open: Soul Pictures – Soul Spaces, Berlinische Galerie
Through 12 October, 2020
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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