Arendt’s "The Human Condition," first published in 1958, methodically categorizes human activities into three fundamental types: labor, work, and action. This tripartite scheme is pivotal in Arendt’s philosophy, as it differentiates between aspects of human life that sustain biological necessities, create lasting artifacts, and engage in the uniquely human capabilities of speech and action. Arendt emphasizes the public sphere as the realm of action where individuals assert their agency and collectively shape their world. "Reflecting Action, Shaping Self" draws directly from these philosophical underpinnings, urging viewers to critically examine the role of introspection in both their public engagements and private contemplations.

In the exhibition, Teresa Grandits' installations such as "Ratio I" and "Nodus III," employ textiles and structured forms to symbolically interrogate the construction and constraints of identity. Grandits' use of garments, starkly arranged against minimalist backdrops of metal industrial grids, not only challenges the viewers' aesthetic expectations but also prompts them to contemplate the sociopolitical structures that sculpt personal and collective identities. These works embody Arendt’s notion of the public realm as the "space of appearance," where individuals reveal their identities through interaction, thus offering a critical reflection on the external forces that mould us.