We are pleased to present the exhibition Liminal Moments 1 with works by 5 artists in various mediums. The title is inspired by a section from the book Anthro-Vision: A New Way to See in Business and Life by the English anthropologist Gillian Tett. In the preface, the author points out that the least questioned assumptions are often the most questionable. It is a dangerous mistake to ignore the ideas we take for granted, and we should strive to “see around corners, spot what’s hidden in plain sight, gain empathy for others, and fresh insight on problems”.
Gillian Tett mentions that during the COVID-19 lockdown, many men grew beards. This was commonly attributed to the casual appearance associated with working from home instead of the office. However, the fact that facial hair was not shaved off due to the lack of office visits is contradicted by the increased focus on faces during Zoom calls.
Gillian Tett mentions that the anthropologist Victor Turner, who worked in Africa, developed a concept called “Liminality”, which partly explains the surge in facial hair during the COVID-19 lockdown. In his theory, Turner observes that most cultures use rituals and symbols to mark transitional points or phases, such as those in a calendar (e.g., the beginning of a new year), the start of a new life cycle (entry into adulthood), or a major social event (national independence). These special moments are termed liminal, from the Latin word "limens", meaning threshold/doorway. A common characteristic of a liminal moment is the reversal of the usual symbolic order, set in contrast to “normality” to mark a transitional moment. Or can the new circumstances now be interpreted as a new normal?
The prevailing sentiment is that we are currently in a time of great transformation that demands mental agility from all of us. As a gallery and thus part of the art scene, we also find ourselves in this phase of liminality – encountering daily changes. The world is almost forcing us to develop, adapt, and update ourselves. Climate change, world politics, mental health, media, new approaches to human relationships, a new perception of our own bodies, our understanding of art – everything is in flux and must be reinvented. In Liminal Moments 1, the artists respond to the currents of time in various ways in their works. Each artwork possesses a symbolic meaning that viewers must place in a historical context and discover for themselves.