Airports are not generally known to provide time and space for exquisite works of art, except in Salzburg, the home of Hangar-7. At Hangar-7, art is not presented obtrusively. Rather, it is blended into the surroundings in a subtle and stylish way.
This alone guarantees a unique atmosphere inside the impressive glass dome of Hangar-7, for the exhibited pieces can quite literally be seen in a different light depending on the weather or the position of the sun.
This year’s exhibition title was taken from Cyndi Lauper’s song of the same name. In the same way that this catchy pop song stands for a serious socio-political message, the paintings displayed in this exhibition deal with colour and composition only at first glance.
From Perception to Reflection
Even though art is always self-sufficient and does not need to convey a political, social, or ecological message or deal with issues of society but can and may be “l´art pour l´art”, it will always be created in the context of the present. Artists are seismographic observers of their time and have the means to translate complex subjects in a visual manner. They challenge us, the observers, to look more closely—not just for the famous 11 seconds that a person allegedly remains in front of a picture—and to discover details and to reflect. They invite us to leave familiar territory and change perspective.
Sometimes, they bluntly show us the precarious relationship between perception and reality. Naturally, art cannot change the world. Hence, we cannot expect artists to deliver solutions. What we can expect, though, is for them to offer insights that we can gain if we allow ourselves to engage with their artwork.
Art in the Subtle Glow
The painting displayed in Hangar-7 is not radical but rather subtle, critical, and, sometimes, filled with narrative poetry. At first glance, it moves within the familiar categories of paintings and, thankfully, does not shut itself off to our learned classification systems. Though only to fall out of these abruptly, mostly without any prior warning.
Reassuringly, even then, any sort of moral positioning is avoided, meaning that the art will throw us back to our own judgement even more. At this interface between perception and irritation, the decisive question arises among the philosophical loops of thought that force themselves on us: May art be thought-provoking?
A Meeting of Minds
Just so you know, at Hangar-7, artists and visitors come together on an equal footing. Although it serves as a meeting place for all art lovers, the term “art gallery” would not do it justice as an exhibition venue. Rather, Hangar-7 is a place where artists and art aficionados can exchange ideas and inspire one another. The exhibition space is brought to life by this exchange, which stimulates the contrast between the different exhibition themes: technology in all its forms on the one side and equally varied art on the other.
Exhibition Period:
The exhibition is on show from July 27, 2023, until September 12, 2023, at Hangar-7.
New exhibition at Hangar-7:
From September 16, 2023 Hangar-7 shows in cooperation with House of Arts the solo exhibition “¡BAILA MAIKO-SAN!” with paintings and drawings by Gabriel Schmitz.
Daily from 9:00 am with free admission.
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