on view: Nadine Karl „79. INTERNATIONALE BERGISCHE KUNSTAUSSTELLUNG“

As part of the 79th International Bergische Art Exhibition, Nadine Karl presents a spatial installation that weaves together photography, sculpture, sound, scent, and elemental materials into a quietly immersive environment. At its center lies a mixture of fill sand and silver sand – a substance that functions both as a fragment of landscape and a metaphysical cipher.

Developed during an artist residency in the desert, Karl’s photographic works respond to the region’s extreme topography, harsh light, and geological depth. Rather than being documentary, the photographs function as poetic fields of visual resonance.

The sculptural works – fragile glass talismans with rough surfaces – are based on the motif of transformation. They reference fulgurites, glassy formations created by lightning strikes, appearing as ciphers of sudden metamorphosis.

A burned workplace – table and chair – marks a central point, surrounded by fragile ceramic objects made from collected aluminum cans and PETG bottles. The materials recall layers of use and transformation – a quiet archaeology of human and environmental processes.

From two front boxes emanates a low, ten-minute humming – a sound loop that subtly shapes the rhythm of the space. The sound seems to hover between landscape and body, reinforcing the installation’s atmosphere of temporal suspension.

At intervals, a subtle scent drifts through the space – a ritual herbal smoke mixture designed for closure and aligned with the element of water. Rooted in shamanic traditions, the scent anchors the installation in a sensorial ritual cycle, evoking transition, dissolution, and release.

Placed on the table are cards referencing films and literary works that informed the conceptual development of the installation. They open the door to understanding the installation not as a final point, but as one moment in a broader, ongoing process – a practice that often extends far beyond what is seen in an exhibition context.

Exhibition Opening
Join us for the opening on September 27 at 3 PM.

Exhibition Dates
September 27 – November 2

Visiting Hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM

Kunstmuseum Solingen
Wuppertaler Str. 160, 42653 Solingen-Gräfrath