Part 1 (on view 27.2.19 – 6.3.19): Marianne Mueller, SMOKE, 2019, fog machine, interval timer, ventilation pipe

Part 2 (on view 6.3.19 – 20.3.19): Flavia Senn: Himalaya Salt Dreams, 2019, Halite crystals, lacquer, luminescent pigments, sound

Neon Sign: Milena Langer + Samuel Haitz, To New Beginnings, 2019

While we renovated the former take-away, several pedestrians looking for lunch asked us what we’re planning to serve in the space. «Art.», we replied. An answer they didn’t expect and didn’t want to hear at all. Useless art instead of tasty momos? What a downgrade!

This place has been used to sell food for years (kebabs, ice cream, hot dogs, and momos for example) and now all of a sudden it’s taken over by art. How to stage this transition? Rituals of cleansing seem to respond to a desire deeply anchored in mankind as they are found in nearly every culture. We asked two artists artists to create works that mark this change.

Marianne Mueller fills the room with smoke that escapes through the ventilation system. The smoke could be interpreted as a fumigation of the space to get rid of the spirits of the past or as a reminiscence of the steamy and smoky take-away. It hides and highlights the space at the same time.

Another transitional ritual takes place at the same time. In esotericism, salt is used to cleanse spaces, either by dissolving it in water or spreading it on the floor. Flavia Senn recorded the sound of salt dissolving in water, which can be heard outside the space. When Mueller’s smoke will have disappeared after one week, salt crystals spread all over the floor will become visible. Thus the transition will be complete.

– Milena Langer + Samuel Haitz