“LE NOUVEAU BIEDERMEIER” at TICK TACK, Antwerp

“LE NOUVEAU BIEDERMEIER” by Olivia Berckemeyer, Antje Blumenstein, Jonas Burgert, Martin Eder, Patrick Vanden Eynde, Tine Furler, Axel Geis, Lise Harlev, Patrick Henne, Gregor Hildebrandt, Juliane Hundertmark, Dritan Hyska, Jeroen Jacobs, Christian Jankowski, Sven Johne, Andreas Koch, Julia Krewani, Peer Kriesel, Joep van Liefland, Catherine Lorent, Karla Marchesi, Andreas Mühe, NEOZOON, Frank Nitsche, Nik Nowak, Cornelia Renz, Anselm Reyle, Gerwald Rockenschaub, Jenny Rosemeyer, Michael Sailstorfer, Thomas Scheibitz, Philip Topolovac, Tilman Wendland, curated by Lisa Junghanß, at TICK TACK, Antwerp, 17/05/2024 – 29/06/2024.

TICK TACK proudly announces ‘LE NOUVEAU BIEDERMEIER’, a major group exhibition featuring works by over 30 international artists. The exhibition, which runs during Antwerp Art Weekend, marks TICK TACK’s fifth anniversary milestone. LE NOUVEAU BIEDERMEIER, curated by Lisa Junghanß (Berlin, 1971), delves into the possible pitfalls of a new wave of conservatism in contemporary art, presenting more than 30 interdisciplinary artistic positions, some of which are juxtaposed with historical works. The question of whether art has a social responsibility or is obliged to adopt a social stance is the subject of constant debate. It arises from the contemporary context wherein art increasingly penetrates various areas of social life, rather than appearing in isolation. Social media has fundamentally changed the dissemination of art, providing artists with a platform to instantly reach a global audience. However, this increased visibility comes at a price: the pressure to conform to trends and gain social recognition. For fear of social media backlash, censorship or other reprisals, artists are increasingly choosing to produce work that conforms to accepted norms, avoiding controversial topics. This conformity is reminiscent of the desire for order and calm during the Biedermeier period– a 19th century art and cultural movement– which, with its potential for self-censorship, undermines art’s ability to act as a catalyst for social change or to question dominant ideologies. “I use the term ‘New Biedermeier’ to summarize the resurgence of conservative values and aesthetics in contemporary art.’ – commented the curator, Lisa Junghanß. The exhibition takes an ironic look at current socio-political trends in the art world and invites the viewer to form their own opinion on the current discourse in a humorous way.