Walk the Line

“There are happy lines, somber, serious, tragic, exuberant, weak and strong. They are the independent language to represent feelings, energy, rhythm, space, light and movement.”
Alexander Michailowitsch Rodtschenko

Alexander Mikhailovich RodchenkoIn Modernism, artists such as Paul Klee, Alexander Rodchenko or Wassily Kandinsky began to deal with the essence of the line, analyzing the relationship between point, line and surface, but also the different expressive power of lines, with showing art recipients another universe of art.
They opened the eyes of those interested in art to the fact that the line can also be considered detached from its function as a form-giver, if one directs one’s attention to the expressive power of the line itself. So, as Dr. Anett Göthe wrote in a lecture, Klee conceded to the line “expression, dynamics and psyche”, while Kandinsky in his treatise “Point, Line to Surface” clarifies that the line is more than a boundary of surface and emphasizes the inherent dynamics of the line itself. These fundamental thoughts on the line by the representatives of the artistic avant-garde have inspired generations of artists to this day.
In the exhibition “Walk the line” we present 13 international, artistic positions that impressively demonstrate how multifaceted contemporary artists approach the topic of line today. Even though the line is closely connected with drawing, the exhibition not only includes works of drawing on paper, but also collages, paintings and sculptures. What they all have in common is that they have approached one of the most important design elements of the visual arts in a sensual-haptic way.