Group show

AUS GUTEM GRUND
August 30, 2014 – October 11, 2014

Stefan Gort
Remus Grecu
Gian Michelle Grob
Gian Häne
Sebastian Herzau
Gerhard Hintermann
Ruth Hommelsheim
Elisabeth Nembrini
Lisa Sartorio
Elisabeth Sonneck
Ernst Stark 
Clemens Tremmel
Nicolas Vionnet 
Werner Widmer
Lydia Wilhelm

widmertheodoridis presents after the summer break the second exhibition at the new domicile in Eschlikon. Concurrently with ,Aus gutem Grund‘ (For a Good Reason) a new show room in the adjacent building will be inaugurated. In the future the former cowshed and barn will highlight installations and video projections on two levels. Nicolas Vionnet starts off with a new installation, especially conceived for this exhibition space.

14 artists have been put together and curated in this second group show by Jordanis Theodoridis and Werner Widmer. Remus Grecu, Ruth Hommelsheim, Sebastian Herzau and Elisabeth Sonneck will be presented for the first time.

,Aus gutem Grund‘ responds to questions such as legitimation, firmness, claim to power and livelihood. The ground we live on harbours power and life force. On this ,solid’ ground we build our homes. Own land constitutes future rights and ownership that again legitimises at any time – upon reasonable grounds – power.

From the beginning of time soil was not considered only as livelihood but was also the origin of discord and disputes. On the one hand, soil ensured subsistence and on the other hand, it also enabled bartering. Owing lots of land gave power to put lots of weight into the balance and so affecting strategically future decisions. The conquest of land is till to date considered a secure mean to pursue political objectives. This legitimation is solely based on material possession and not on rationally comprehensive reasoning. The importance of ground and land is still apparent in metaphors such as ,on solid ground‘ and ,upon reasonable grounds‘.

Anyone who has ever gained power will try to retain it. Architectural symbols of a state of power such as pyramids or triumphal arches literally reinforce exactly this claim to power. However, not all of these monuments endure over time, one good example is the Palace of the Republic in east Berlin that has been gradually torn down after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The origin of the word ,ground‘ demonstrates the ephemeral character of power and hence human existence.

As stated in the Book of Moses, You are dust and to dust you will return. This material definition of our condition has been passed on and is firmly embedded in our language and culture. It is an essential part of our identity. ,Grund‘ (ground) can be etymologically traced down to the word ,Boden‘ (soil): the word in Old High German is ,grunt‘ (pulverised, milled). Which can still be observed in the English word ,grind‘ (see also ,ground‘). Literally meaning ,dust‘.

Looked at in this way, the human relation to earth and ground appears to be a constant attempt to withstand finitude and decay by durability and security.