In the installation Frohes neues Jahr, the contorted remains of two burnt rubbish containers bear witnessto the raw forces unleashed on New Year’s Eve in Neukölln. Transformed into monochrome objects, they symbolise both an act of defiance and a moment of catharsis.
The concept of redemption is a key element in religious traditions and often achieved through labour, true to the principle of “ora et labora”. The installation Latin Locutions (ora et labora) alludes to this conjunction of faithful dedication and diligence, embedding elements of confessionals, such as kneeling benches and lattice windows, in a structure of building blocks. On the one hand, the installation invites visitors to emulate the act of confession; on the other hand, its open and light structure exposes this intimate moment. Mariona Berenguer thus plays with the human desire for a belief system to hold on to and the fear of finding it empty at its core.
In a poetic and critical manner and through sculptural, textile, graphic, and installative methods, Mariona Berenguer examines the position of (artistic) labour in our society. Today, work no longer serves merely to secure livelihoods and satisfy needs, but acts as a source of self-esteem and selffulfilment. Productivity is considered as a means of redemption from financial debt as well as from spiritual and societal failings. Against this background, REDEMPTION, MAYBE probes the value and belief systems that underpin our work culture and evokes the creative, physical, and expressive forces that come to haunt it.
Text: Lisa Deml
