TANDEM 2024 __ isn't it romantic?

Duration: Sat, 30 Nov - 21 Dec 24 Break Thu, 2 Jan - 12 Jan 25

Opening times: Thu, 4-7pm | Fri, 3-6pm and Sat, 2-5pm

Opening Sat, 30 Nov 24 from 7pm

Introductory words Katharina Arlt, art historian

followed by an 8pm concert

Sabine Grüner - vionloncello and Karoline Schulz - flutes

Isn t it romantic?

The term "romantic" has become an ambiguous term in our everyday language, which, in connection with special descriptions of nature, fundamentally positive feelings and love, allows us to immerse ourselves in another sphere of our reality. Enchantment, longing, rapture, desire and reverie, moods that are generally hidden from us in the reality of our lives (for good reason), suddenly become accessible to us. Beyond the cognitive possibilities that Novalis, for example, saw in them, these concepts also harbour the shallows and problematic narratives of the Romantic gaze.

On the occasion of Caspar David Friedrich's 250th birthday, we at the Dresdner Sezession 89 e.V. would like to celebrate Romanticism with an artistic act, but also ask ourselves what its flipside is. As a style, as an artistic epoch and, above all, as an attitude of mind.

For, as Thomas Mann was already convinced, this is precisely where a danger lurks. In his opinion, unworldly idealism, the excess of the Romantic spirit and devotion to the irrational promoted National Socialism, which he repeatedly referred to as quintessentially German and desirable. The Nazi socialists loved everything romantic. It is therefore no coincidence that Hanna Ahrendt called Heidegger "hopefully the last Romantic" in 1946 and Bert Brecht vehemently opposed everything emphatic, but especially the Romanticism and historicism of the 19th century, with the battle cry "Don't stare so romantically".

With all justified enthusiasm for the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich and Romanticism in general, we should always remember how quickly we lose ourselves in the pathos of romantic feelings and willingly relinquish control, although a certain scepticism would have been more appropriate.

Women artists from DS89 e.V. and guests refer to the Romantic era with their own artistic positions from a female perspective. A wide variety of artistic attitudes and handwritings can be expected in this exhibition project.