A Sophisticated Dialogue Between Form and Historical Memory at Fluentum

Matt Welch, combining kinetic sculpture, video, and sound, creates a harmonious fusion between the immaterial space of video and the physical environment of Fluentum, as illustrated by his wall projections. Nina Könnemann, through her films, observes the everyday life of public spaces, revealing the exceptional in the mundane and the ordinary.

These works reflect a thematic continuity in the artistic journeys of the participants, while introducing new nuances and approaches.

Michael E. Smith employs subtle yet ingenious interventions to transform the monumental building into a flexible and malleable material. A striking example of this technique is seen in the piece featuring a yellow plush toy, resembling a well-known Pokémon character, wedged between the bars of a window. This unusual choice not only challenges the visitor’s expectations but also evokes a sense of imprisonment and constrained freedom, a visual and conceptual reference to the troubled history of the site. The familiarity of the plush toy, contrasted with the rigidity of the bars, creates a powerful dialogue between carefree childhood and the heavy historical legacy of the building.

Patricia L. Boyd’s work continues her exploration of materiality and absence, evident in her suspended sculptures that play with light and space.

“Live Stream” transforms Fluentum into a field of tensions and dialogues between past and present. The works, through subtle and unexpected interventions, rewrite the history of the building, inviting visitors to explore new perspectives and meanings. The exhibition reminds us that art has the power to reactivate spaces and memories, making them alive and relevant in our time.