The Presence of Absence
Matter and Traces – Imprints of Life in Time
12.10.2024 — 02.03.2025
The exhibition is a cooperation with Senckenberg Society for Nature Research and Institute for Theoretical Physics at the Goethe University Frankfurt
With Heidi Bucher, Lawrence Malstaf, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Petra Noordkamp, Claudio Parmiggiani, Toni R. Toivonen and with exhibits from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Florentine Museum and Institute of Prehistory “Paolo Graziosi”, the Natural History Museum of Vienna, the LWL-Museum of Natural History in Münster, Associazione Gibellina Parco Culturale and with Prof Dr Luciano Rezzolla, Institute for Theoretical Physics at Goethe University Frankfurt
Curated by: Franziska Nori, with scientific support from Anita Lavorano and Laura Perrone
The exhibition The Presence of Absence revolves around the theme of humankind’s endless confrontation with the idea of change and transience and their forms of representation in art. The title alludes to matter as a presence in which traces of the living are inscribed. This vital energy is powerful, yet fleeting.
Where do we come from? What is the origin of all matter on earth and in the infinity of the cosmos? What does it mean to recognise black holes in the centre of our galaxy, in which infinitely condensed matter creates a void and absence? What effects do natural events create that reshape the earth and change people’s lives with their power? And how do people deal with the existential need to face eternity in their finiteness? What myths and images do they create in order to connect with the spiritual? Is art a way of immortalising oneself in time?
These questions have shaped the imagination of us humans from prehistoric times to the present day. Ever since humans have existed on earth, they have invented symbols and signs to give form to their feelings, thoughts and knowledge, to leave traces in time and perhaps to connect with eternity.
Works by important contemporary artists enter into a dialogue with scientific exhibits from the fields of geology and astrophysics, with casts from Pompeii, with footprints of prehistoric people from the Laetoli site in present-day Tanzania and with replicas of prehistoric cave drawings of human ancestors. All exhibits refer to existential questions of being human in the dimensions of space and time. They explore the idea of traces of existence that are inscribed in matter.
With the exhibition The Presence of Absence, the Frankfurter Kunstverein is continuing its collaboration with the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research for the fourth time. Following Trees of Life (2019), Edmond’s Prehistoric Realm (2020) and Bending the Curve (2023), the Frankfurter Kunstverein has now created a show that invited science to ask fundamental questions. The collaboration arises from the ongoing discussions between Prof Franziska Nori, Director of the Frankfurter Kunstverein, and Prof Dr Andreas Mulch, Director of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt. In addition, we have been able to win over Prof Dr Luciano Rezzolla, from the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the Goethe University Frankfurt, to allow science and art to enter into an intensive dialogue as a common force of human thought and research.
We thank
Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt: Prof. Dr. Andreas Mulch (Director), Prof. Dr. Ottmar Kullmer (Head of the Palaeoanthropology Department), Dr. Thorolf Müller (Head of Curation), Stefanie Klein (Exhibition Office), Olaf Vogel (Geological Preparation); Institute for Theoretical Physics ITP, Goethe University Frankfurt: Prof. Dr. Luciano Rezzolla, Marie Cassing; Italian Consulate General in Frankfurt: Massimo Darchini (Consul General), Michele Santoriello (Cultural Office); Archeological Park of Pompeii: Dr. Gabriel Zuchtriegel (Director), Dr. Silvia Martina Bertesago, Anna Civale (Exhibitions and Education), Paola Sabbatucci (Restorer); Florentine Museum and Institute of Prehistory “Paolo Graziosi”: Prof. Dr. Fabio Martini (Director), Dr. Lapo Baglioni; Natural History Museum of Vienna: Dr. Karin Wiltschke-Schrotta (Head of Department Anthropology), Dr. Margit Berner (Staff Scientists and Curator); LWL-Museum of Natural History, Münster: Dr. Lothar Schöllmann (Head of Palaeontology Collection), Daria Carobene (Collection Manager Palaeontology), Sabine Frahling (Administration); Alberto Stabile (Gibellina Heartquake VR), The Heidi Bucher Estate: Indigo Bucher, Mayo Bucher; Ischa Tallieu (Tallieu Art Office); Ingrid Nelson (Artist Liason Lehmann Maupin); Michele Casamonti (Tornabuoni Art); Federica Popoli, Abel Herrero (Studio Claudio Parmiggiani); Tiziana Peparini, Marco Fusi (Ars Movendi); Galerie Forsblom: Ilkka Tikkanen (Director), Suvi Pajunen (Registrar); Nelimarkka Foundation: Joonas Seeck (Chairperson), Carmen Vendelin-Iaukkanen (Director); Anna Hjorth-Röntynen (Director Sara Hildén Art Museum); Tommi Pätilä; Ville Tuppurainen; Tobias Becker and the students of the Institute of Art Education at the Justus Liebig University Giessen; Andrea Cortellessa; Dr. Wolfgang David (Director Archaeological Museum Frankfurt); Matthias Eichhorn; Paolo Ferri; Daniel Gilgen (studio gilgen); Florian Langhammer (Collectors Agenda); Fabio Macaluso; Kathrin Sündermann; Dr. Norbert Zimmermann (German Archeological Institute, Rome); C.H. Beck Verlag; Ullstein Buchverlage GmbH
