Wunder

Isn't it a miracle ...

WUNDER - is the book accompanying the exhibition about the limits of Western rationality. Surrounding works of contemporary art, the exhibition and book deal with what is out of the ordinary in our world: from the inexplicable healing, the incredible natural spectacle and the wondrous stranger to the unexpected technical innovation and the artistic idea through to mere coincidence. The exhibits from all areas of society trace how Christian religion and ancient natural philosophy have shaped our idea of the miraculous. It becomes clear that in the West, the miracle embodies an opening in the world - an opening from which art, science and technology have emerged in interaction with religious questions.
The exhibition and book juxtapose this unique combination of religious, scientific and artistic motifs with perspectives from other cultures - such as Islam - which gives the discussion about the Western world view and its ability to create meaning, which is constantly being questioned from within and without, added poignancy.Works by Francis Alÿs, Joseph Beuys, Dara Birnbaum, Cosima von Bonin, Ceal Floyer, Andreas Gursky, Jonathan Horowitz, Martin Kippenberger & Albert Oehlen, Julia Kissina, Dieter Krieg, Kris Martin, Henri Michaux, Thomas Schütte, Katharina Sieverding, Roman Signer, Thomas Struth, Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel, Fiona Tan, Javier Téllez, James Turrell, Franz West and Erwin Wurm as well as a multitude of scientific and cultural-historical exhibits such as the "miracle weapon" V2, the Hamburg patent for the sparkler, historical miracle jars, votive pictures, a holy-magnetic Benedictine cross and beatification files, a magnificent medieval Koran, deep-sea fish, lottery balls, 16th century pamphlets, a perpetual motion machine as well as a "miraculous candle". A perpetual motion machine, magic wands, magic lamps, magic pills, witches' cauldrons and Goethe's magic box.

Exhibitions:
Deichtorhallen Hamburg, 23/9/2011 - 5/2/2012
Kunsthalle Krems, 4/3 - 1/7/2012