Within and Beyond—vita activa’s Landscapes of Action

Linda Berger & Edelgard Gerngross

June 26 - August 2 2024

The third exhibition in the series "Beyond Existence," featuring Linda Berger and Edelgard Gerngross, titled "Within and Beyond—vita activa’s Landscapes of Action," delves into the concept of inner and outer landscapes. This show, part of an eight-part series inspired by Hannah Arendt's seminal work, "The Human Condition," presents a nuanced exploration of human engagement with the world through the artistic interpretations of Berger and Gerngross.

As the third instalment in the "Beyond Existence" series, "Within and Beyond—vita activa’s Landscapes of Action" builds on the themes explored in the preceding exhibitions. “Within and Beyond” extends these discussions by exploring the spatial dimensions of existence and by examining how inner and outer landscapes interact, it adds a new layer to the series' overarching inquiry into the human condition. It underscores the importance of considering both the internal and external factors that shape our actions and experiences, thus enriching the ongoing conversation initiated by the series.

In this context, the contrasting yet complementary works of Berger and Gerngross serve as pivotal points in the broader narrative. Their explorations of inner and outer landscapes provide a bridge between the personal and the universal, offering insights into how individual experiences and perceptions contribute to the collective human experience.

The Dialogue Between Inner and Outer Landscapes

The placement of Berger's expansive wall drawings alongside Gerngross's delicate sculptures creates a dynamic dialogue within the exhibition space. This juxtaposition encourages viewers to consider how their internal landscapes influence and are influenced by the external world. The exhibition's title, "Within and Beyond—vita activa’s Landscapes of Action," emphasizes this reciprocal relationship, suggesting that our actions are shaped by both our inner motivations and the outer contexts in which we operate.

Berger's immersive environments invite viewers to lose themselves in the labyrinthine patterns of the mind, while Gerngross's sculptures serve as touchstones, grounding the viewer in the tangible reality of the physical world. This interplay between the abstract and the concrete, the introspective and the external, forms the crux of the exhibition's conceptual framework.

Born in 1980 in Aalen (D) and having lived and worked in Vienna since her studies at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Linda Berger uses the technique of ink drawing to create her–unusually large–artworks, all consisting of thousands of individual pen strokes.

Linda Berger

The transmedia artist Edelgard Gerngross (1977) lives and works in Vienna. In her diverse works (sculptures, installations, drawings and photographs) she explores fundamental issues of space and materiality.

Edelgard Gerngross

Imprint

Linda Berger
lindaberger.com

Edelgard Gerngross

Curated by Anne Avramut

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