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Courage >< Caution

Bianca Ion
Nikola Milojcevic
Zula Tuvshinbat

curated by Laura Birschitzky & Julia Harrauer

Risk is an essential part of life, both as a source of personal growth and as a potential danger: “Risk is a battle in which we do not know our opponent, a desire that we ourselves are not aware of, a love whose face remains hidden from us, a pure event.” (p.28) Based on the theories of philosopher and psychoanalyst Anne Dufourmantelle, the exhibition is dedicated to the multi-layered ambivalences of risk and its significance for human behavior and thought.

“Looking around is a real risk.” – A balancing act in limbo, holding one’s breath and paying close attention to what is revealed in the present. This suspension is a state in which the balance can be destroyed at any time, similar to the tightrope walker who risks falling when he pauses.
The exhibition sheds light on both the aesthetic and existential dimensions of risk by interweaving philosophical considerations and artistic forms of expression: Dufourmantelle’s philosophical concepts are illustrated by works of art that reflect the balance between safety and uncertainty, as well as courage and caution. Furthermore, the question is posed as to what becomes of a society that can only regard taking a risk as a heroic act or pure madness. It questions what it means to “take a risk” and to what extent there is a need to break free from entrenched norms and be open to new experiences. Risk is not only seen as a potential danger, but also as a source of beauty, creativity and personal growth.

Available Art: