Dystopian Archaeologies. Exploring the vestiges of a past-future.
September 21 – October 29, 2023
STEFAN RINCK & TRINE SØNDERGAARD
La Misericordia, Palma
If you want to express something impossible, you must keep certain rules. The element of mystery to which you want to draw attention should be surrounded and veiled by an obvious and easily recognisable normality.
Escher on “the impossible”, 1963.
CCA Andratx presents in La Misericordia a union of two disparate worlds in an intriguing dialogue. Trine Søndergaard, originally from Copenhagen, and Stefan Rinck, born in Homburg/ Saar, share space and creativity in an exhibition that invites us into an archaeological scenario of juxtaposed surprises.
From the moment we enter this new room in the labyrinthine building, a sense of time travel envelops us. We find ourselves in a corridor that leads to a cistern, but before we reach this destination, our eyes are captured by relics. These objects, like portals to dystopias, past eras and alternate realities, urge us to reflect and question.
We move through the room with the sensation of pushing aside plants and soil in search of hidden treasures. This is where we encounter the works of Stefan Rinck, a glimpse into the imaginary potential of the artist manifested in stone. His creations feature characters and creatures, some with animal features but with an intriguing humanisation. Through these works, Rinck takes us back in time and presents us with characters that could be reminiscent of medieval times but resolved in a contemporary perspective. The works, in their contemporary visual language, have a powerful effect of temporal transport to new and dystopian scenarios.
As we explore Stefan’s figures, which seem to follow us with their gaze from all angles, our eyes are drawn upwards to Trine Søndergaard’s imposing photographs. In contrast to Rinck’s works, Søndergaard’s images transport us to a different reality. The headdresses worn by her characters capture our attention and entice us to listen to their stories. Unlike Rinck’s creatures, Søndergaard’s characters hide behind these headdresses, allowing the accessories to speak for them. The fusion of 19th century Danish headdresses with contemporary garments creates an unusual but captivating contradiction, conveying a sense of historical nostalgia. Søndergaard, with his unique skill, immerses us in a timeline of his own, where past and present coexist in visual harmony.
In this room at Misericordia, we witness an astonishing convergence between archaeology and contemporary creativity through the works of Trine Søndergaard and Stefan Rinck. Their joint exhibition is not only a testament to the power of art to transcend temporal and narrative barriers, but also stands as a testament to the ability of these two artists to push the conventional boundaries of artistic expression. Here, archaeology takes on a new meaning, as it is not limited to simply unearthing ancient artefacts and relics from the past, but expands into a profound exploration of human imagination and creativity. Søndergaard and Rinck, each in their own way, guide us through a journey that transcends time and space, offering us a glimpse of places and moments that might have remained hidden were it not for their artistic vision. Ultimately, this exhibition leaves us with the profound impression that art is a constantly evolving means of understanding and reinterpreting our past and present. Trine Søndergaard and Stefan Rinck show us that, through creativity and artistic expression, we are able to unearth visual treasures that connect us to distant places and times, creating a dialogue between archaeology and imagination that only such a diverse and talented duo could achieve. Their works invite us to further explore the myriad layers of history and creativity, reminding us that art has the power to transcend the limitations of time and reveal to us the richness of our own existence.
Text: Raquel Victoria
