Artists

Anna K.E., Sally von Rosen, Linnéa Sjöberg

Press release

The exhibition title is a line from the poem "To the Oracle at Delphi" (2001) by the American poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Ferlinghetti takes up the ancient Greek figure of the oracle, a powerful symbol for the search for wisdom and guidance, and connects it with the current challenges of modern life. The poem addresses the ambiguity of truth and can be read as a reflection on the general human desire for meaning and understanding, especially in times of uncertainty. In the context of this year's curated by theme "Fragmented Subjectivity," the line "And tell us how to save us from ourselves" appears to me as an appeal or a subtle resistance against the meaninglessness that threatens to engulf us. For better or for worse: we are all part of today's endless flood of content – as producers as well as consumers. Inevitably, we reflect, measure, adapt, and have infinite possibilities to shape and redefine ourselves. In this constantly changing existence, we lose ourselves or find strategies to gain control over our identity and self-image. The exhibition presents three artists who engage with the fragmented existence of our time through video, sculpture, installation, and performance. Anna K.E.'s works focus on the act of seeing: by looking and observing, she regains control over her self-image. Linnéa Sjöberg's approach may seem more drastic, but it pursues a similar goal: to resist definition by others and not to be forced to adapt. Sally von Rosen's sculptures can be perceived as the pure embodiment of this contradiction. In the endless loop of relentless superficiality of our time, which we are fed and which we ourselves nourish, Ferlinghetti's use of the oracle serves as a call for self-reflection. These three artistic voices remind us that true meaning often lies in understanding ourselves and our place in the world. Or, to put it in the poet's closing lines: "And give us new dreams to dream, Give us new myths to live by!"