Sarah Neumann, Tom König, Suzie Callisz, Maria Margolina, Jakob Floess, and Maxim Tur, “Cryptogramme,” at Komplot, Brussels.

“Cryptogramme” by Sarah Neumann, Tom König, Suzie Callisz, Maria Margolina, Jakob Floess, and Maxim Tur, curated by Jakob Floess and Maria Margolina, at Komplot, Brussels, 07/11/2024 – 05/12/2024.

Exhibition Text:
Cryptogramme, derived from the Greek root “κρυπτός,” meaning “hidden” or “concealed,” encapsulates the idea of veiling information, actions, or intentions from public scrutiny. In the context of contemporary politics, this term resonates with a complexity that mirrors the intricacies of power dynamics, manipulation, and the subtle art of control. Governments, institutions, and individuals often engage in a delicate balancing act, choosing what to reveal and what to keep shrouded in secrecy.

In Cryptogramme, six positions converge as a collective code consisting of pictorial, sculptural, and acoustic hash functions. Similar to the function of a scytale, an ancient encryption tool consisting of a cylinder with a strip of parchment wound around it on which is written a message, every position within the Cryptogramme deals with the encryption and decryption of information.

Cryptogramme transcends its utilitarian role as a means of securing information. It emerges as a complex semiotic/pictorial tool of countermeasure, generating a collective code, deconstructing binary oppositions, and fostering new networks of knowledge.