The World Without Us
Martin Walde, UBIQ_X, 2021
As a result of the Enlightenment, science extended the traditional Western conception of space and time into the realms of sheer infinity. The universe became older, larger and colder. This coincided with a sense of unease that mankind was no longer at the centre of the universe, no longer rooted in a world view that was capable of wresting ultimate meaning from history. The threat of an apocalypse gave way to a geological continuity of disasters and changes.
There is a dawning awareness of an uncanny, sublime indifference towards the human scale in a universe that is neither empty nor animate, but rather undead.
The exhibition brings together artistic positions that draw on concepts such as “deep time” – time periods spanning billions of years, in which human existence is little more than a fleeting moment – and “cosmic horror”, a feeling caught between fascination and terror when faced with non-human existence that is inconceivable to our notions of time and space.
Curators: Markus Proschek, Hemma Schmutz
Curatorial Assistant: Sandra Eichinger
Artists
Klemens Brosch, Martin Dammann, DARUM, Albrecht Dürer, Mark Fridvalszki, Sophia Gatzkan, H.R. Giger, Anna Jermolaewa, Alfred Kubin, Nicolás Lamas, Angelika Loderer, Christian Kosmas Mayer, Nika Neelova, Markus Proschek, Natalia Dominguez Rangel, Katharina Sieverding, Philip Topolovac, Chin Tsao, Martin Walde, Michał Zawada, u. a
I have seen the dark universe yawning
Where the black planets roll without aim;
Where they roll in their horror unheeded,
Without knowledge or luster or name.
H.P. Lovecraft, Nemesis
Upcoming events
| Date | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 05.02 | Opening: The World Without Us The exhibition brings together artistic positions that draw on concepts such as “deep time” – time periods spanning billions of years, in which human existence is little more than a fleeting moment – and “cosmic horror”, a feeling caught between fascination and terror when faced with non-human existence that is inconceivable to our notions of time and space. | 7:00 pm–10:00 pm |
| Wed 11.02 | The World Without Us: Filmscreening Moviemento At the Moviemento cinema, the film Event Horizon will be screened. Introduction by curator Markus Proschek. | 8:00 pm–10:00 pm |
| Sat 14.02 | Guided tour in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) of the exhibition The World Without Us Guided tours with an Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) interpreter. Duration: 1 hour. Free for people with hearing impairments. No registration required. | 4:00 pm–5:00 pm |
| Wed 25.02 | The World Without Us: AEC Deepspace In cooperation with Ars Electronica, detailed gigapixel images of works by Klemens Brosch as well as the award-winning short film Brosch AI – Distorted Dreams will be presented in the Deep Space. Introduction by Juergen Hagler (ANIMA PLUS). | 7:00 pm–8:00 pm |
| Thu 26.03 | The World Without Us: Artist talk The curator and artist Markus Proschek will talk with the two artists Anna Jaermolewa and Christian Kosmas Mayer in the exhibition. Admission: museum entry only. Registration requested at +43 732 7070 3614 or online | 5:00 pm–7:00 pm |
| Thu 02.04 | The World Without Us: Curator’s Tour Hemma Schmutz and Markus Proschek will guide visitors through the exhibition. Admission: museum entry only. Registration requested at +43 732 7070 3614 or online. | 6:00 pm–7:00 pm |