Mit dem Rücken zu Wand

In the organizer's words:

Classical art viewing follows a deeply rooted paradigm: a work of art is presented in isolation, the viewer positions themselves in front of it and focuses exclusively on the work - the room, other people present and their own physical presence remain hidden. This supposedly one-sided form of reception places the artwork at the center, while the viewers are reduced to mere recipients. But what happens when this perspective is broken?

With his exhibition"With your back to the wall", Dutch artistPeer Holthuizenposes precisely this question. The installation is a deliberate break with the traditional understanding of art, taking up major themes of modernism, where the relationship between art and the viewer was broken up for the first time. Viewers were made aware of the subjectivity of their perception and the status of objectivity that many works had previously enjoyed was shaken. As Beuys emphasized, art is therefore not simply "there", but must first be created. Based on artistic positions such as those of Beuys, Marina Abramović or John Bock, which question the role of the viewer and the interaction between artwork, space and audience, Holthuizen develops an immersive setting that dissolves the receptive status of the visitor.

In addition to the interactive experience, the material also plays a central role. Holthuizen has been working for decades as a project artist in project-related and social contexts and with a variety of materials, including cardboard - a material that initially seems inconspicuous but opens up a wide range of creative possibilities. The deliberate choice of this reused material draws attention to themes such as transience, sustainability and the fragility of our perception. The role or image of cardboard as a material of relatively short value is thus challenged He first attracted attention in the Netherlands in the 1980s with his "Cardboard sofa - ideal for the short-lived home" and has since developed large-scale cardboard installations for stage sets, trade fairs and artistic interventions.

An essential part of the exhibition are the weekly events that take place in the middle of the installation. Discussion rounds, conferences and presentations by various actors are integrated into the concept and invite multifocal viewing. The exhibition thus becomes not only a walk-in sculpture, but also a lively place for encounters and reflection.

You are cordially invited to the vernissage on 24.04. at 7 pm at the Kunstforum Oldenburg!

"With your back to the wall" will be exhibited from 25.04. - 12.06.2025.