Vacant Vibrations

Can silence have different sounds? Do various urban landscapes produce distinct silences? What kind of meanings and emotions does the lack of sound entail? In a group exhibition titled “Vacant Vibrations” Paula Kaniewska, Ángeles Rojas and Marina Witt explore varied expressions of silence in the cityscape. Through their diverse art practices rooted in sound art, sculpture and new media, they offer fresh perspectives that complement each other.

Rojas would like to create an experimental sound piece out of field recordings of silences captured throughout Neukölln. By remixing and juxtaposing the material she aims to build a portrait of the neighbourhood that is simultaneously abstract and concrete. The absence of sound will question what is omitted or remains unheard.

Kaniewska will instead concentrate on documenting the surreal landscapes of the construction sites. Falling silent when the work ceases, piles of sand or rocks resemble mountain formations with picturesque precipices and ridges. Through paintings and video, the artist offers a semi-admiring, semi-ironic look at this substitute of nature. She catches the last glimpse of them before they turn into densely built apartment complexes or motorways.

Witt will follow in a similar direction, creating interactive ceramic sculptures inspired both by the urban landscape and the abstract notion of silence. Through her work with clay, she aims to explore the quietude and tranquillity evoked by the earth and the soil, investigating how we can reconnect with this sense of materiality in today's fast-paced contemporary society.