Art is magic, freed from the lie of being truth. (Theodor W. Adorno) “before the beginning – after the end # 1” – an embryo´s vision- A video installation by Mihoko Ogaki The works of Mihoko Ogaki deal with existential topics such as birth and death, thereby discussing philosophical issues of human life. Starting from scientific and evolutionism theory-based knowledge, Ogaki raises metaphysical, ontological and cosmic questions. Regarding the genesis of human life from a biological point of view, the embryo emerges from cell fusion and becomes a viable human being through cell division. All genetic information is individually determined within the DNA whose molecular consistency can be decoded by science in detail. Nonetheless, science has its limits. Questions such as “where do we come from and where are we going to?“ finally cannot be responded to in scientific terms. Mihoko Ogaki scrutinises the origin of mankind in her installation “before the beginning – after the end # 1” – an embryo´s vision-. A baby carriage, draped with prismatic coloured pearls, is standing on a white cloud made of feathers and makes spheric sounds. As the observer looks into the carriage, he discovers a screen representing the embryo´s vision. The artist has scanned various drawings and made a film out of it with her computer. This brings us to Ogaki´s concept of prenatal perception: organic, cell-like formations float through visual space, reminding of microbiological organisms. The monotonous, computer-based sounds that seem to come from another world, impressingly underline the utopia of the image worlds. The harmony of sounds, images, material and colours makes us experience the contemplation of a dream world. Feathers are bedding the installation, symbolising softness, airiness and protection as well as eternity, since feathers outlast the death of its beings. Every single pearl is different, holding the rainbow´s colour spectrum. The artist has accurately assembled piece by piece to an entity. The multitude of the material, the images and the sounds forms the artwork. It leads us into transcendental fields of human life and urges us to ask for the things beyond the material world. The embryo´s vision is just as speculative as our imagination of life after death, which is preconditional to our belief in rebirth. Perishableness is sine qua non for becoming and emergence and determines the circulation and development of human life. Therefore, birth and death are no opposites for Mihoko Ogaki but form an entity. Aspects of the non-explainable fascinate the artist who has dealt with facts and theories derived from natural sciences in detail. Thinking or feelings, such as joy, anger or mourning are based upon molecular connections. They may function microbiologically, yet they cannot be entirely explained. The multitude of things always sums up to an indivisible entity. The universe consists of endless numbers of elementary particles. Still, it constitutes a whole. “So in this double sense, everybody is the whole world, the microcosm finds both sides of it completely in itself. And what it thereby recognizes as its own nature is the very same that also makes up the nature of the whole world, the macrocosm.” (Arthur Schopenhauer, Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung, Bd.I, § 29) Mihoko Ogaki approaches the phenomena she brings up in her work analytically, coevally pointing out the impossibility to cover the world completely by means of science. Where science comes to an end, art turns into a medium asking existential questions whose aporetic is presupposed. Despite substantial progress in the field of prenatal research the embryo´s vision will never be decoded. A human’s thinking and feeling, the harmony of body and soul defies scientific explanation. The autonomy of art is freed from objective conclusions. That is why the world we live in can turn deeply and substantially into the centre of consideration. This is Mihoko Ogaki´s approach. In Adorno´s sense, her art raises questions without claiming to know the answers. The artist makes use of topics like birth and death in order to examine philosophical issues of life. In 2003, Mihoko Ogaki has presented her work at the 57. Bergische Kunstausstellung at Baden Museum, Solingen and was awarded the audience prize. This, beyond doubt, mirrors human´s need to profoundly deal with its own existence. Gisela Elbracht-Iglhaut Museum Baden, Solingen Catalogue available.
Amparo Sard | Fuzzy Objectives Nov 16, 2024 - Jan 25, 2025 |
Frank Bauer | Herringbone parquet and other problems Sepr 28, 2024 - Nov 09, 2024 |
Tenda Lomba | This Wonderful World Aug 24, 2024 - Sepr 21, 2024 |
SELECTION 2024 Jun 18, 2024 - Jul 06, 2024 |
Jurriaan Molenaar | BAUHAUS + GRAUHAUS Apr 20, 2024 - Jun 08, 2024 |
Michael Tolloy | ANDROS + GYNE Feb 17, 2024 - Apr 06, 2024 |
Idowu Oluwaseun | PEDESTAL Dec 09, 2023 - Feb 10, 2024 |
SELECTION 2023 Nov 10, 2023 - Dec 02, 2023 |
Harding Meyer | Audience Aug 26, 2023 - Nov 04, 2023 |
Summer Break Jul 11, 2023 - Aug 22, 2023 |
Flávia Junqueira | Symphony of Illusions Jun 10, 2023 - Jul 08, 2023 |
Fransix Tenda Lomba | Historical Shock Apr 22, 2023 - Jun 03, 2023 |
Till Freiwald | Echo Jan 28, 2023 - Mar 31, 2023 |
SELECTION | Part 2 Dec 16, 2022 - Jan 21, 2023 |
Daniel Heil | Wheel of Dharma Nov 05, 2022 - Dec 03, 2022 |
Claudia Rogge | WARP and WEFT Aug 27, 2022 - Oct 29, 2022 |
Éder Oliveira | Oposición Jun 24, 2022 - Jul 30, 2022 |
Fábio Baroli | Where the wind turns May 06, 2022 - Jun 18, 2022 |
Frank Bauer | Bilder vom Verschwinden Mar 12, 2022 - Apr 30, 2022 |
Selection Feb 08, 2022 - Mar 05, 2022 |
Harding Meyer | known unknowns Oct 29, 2021 - Dec 18, 2021 |
Kate Waters | It takes one to know one Aug 27, 2021 - Oct 23, 2021 |
Giacomo Costa | Atmospheres May 28, 2021 - Jul 03, 2021 |
Idowu Oluwaseun | REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE: a synthesis of time and sound Oct 30, 2020 - Dec 12, 2020 |
Peter Uka | Inner Frame Aug 28, 2020 - Oct 24, 2020 |
Harding Meyer | new works Jun 05, 2020 - Jul 15, 2020 |
Mary A. Kelly | Chair Mar 14, 2020 - May 30, 2020 |
Michael Tolloy | Solid Solidarity Jan 17, 2020 - Feb 29, 2020 |
Kate Waters | Love Shacks and other Hideouts Oct 18, 2019 - Jan 09, 2020 |
Frank Bauer | Paths of Inaccuracy Aug 30, 2019 - Oct 12, 2019 |
Christian Bazant-Hegemark | Kindness of Strangers Jun 07, 2019 - Jul 13, 2019 |
Sandra Ackermann | Escape into your Reality May 03, 2019 - Jun 01, 2019 |
Kay Kaul | Cloudbusting Mar 08, 2019 - Apr 27, 2019 |
Jurriaan Molenaar | Fermate Jan 18, 2019 - Mar 02, 2019 |
Harding Meyer / Humanize Oct 19, 2018 - Jan 12, 2019 |
Mihoko Ogaki / Soft Landing Aug 31, 2018 - Oct 13, 2018 |
Peter Uka / Fragment of the Present Passed Apr 13, 2018 - May 26, 2018 |
Daniel Heil / Monologues Mar 09, 2018 - Apr 07, 2018 |
Düsseldorf Photo Weekend 2018 Feb 16, 2018 - Feb 18, 2018 |
Sandra Senn / Zwischen Zwei Meeren Jan 26, 2018 - Mar 03, 2018 |
Frank Bauer / Die Gelassenheit der Dinge Nov 17, 2017 - Jan 20, 2018 |
Kate Waters / Whistling In The Dark Sepr 01, 2017 - Nov 11, 2017 |
Untitled Jul 12, 2017 - Aug 02, 2017 |
Davide La Rocca / 13K ( Part 1 ) May 12, 2017 - Jun 27, 2017 |
Sandra Ackermann / Lost in Nothingness Mar 24, 2017 - May 06, 2017 |
Claudia Rogge / CONCENTRATION Jan 27, 2017 - Mar 18, 2017 |
Christian Bazant - Hegemark / The Rise and Fall of Transformative Hopes and Expectations Nov 11, 2016 - Jan 21, 2017 |
Harding Meyer / The Others Aug 26, 2016 - Nov 05, 2016 |
Crossing Borders Jun 03, 2016 - Jul 15, 2016 |
Sandra Senn / Flüchtiges Getriebe Apr 08, 2016 - May 21, 2016 |
Corrado Zeni / Éloge de la fuite Nov 27, 2015 - Jan 09, 2016 |
Claudia Rogge / PerSe Oct 16, 2015 - Nov 21, 2015 |
Kate Waters // Tell it like it is Aug 28, 2015 - Oct 10, 2015 |
Visions Of Sensory Space ( by Weightless Artists Association - SPARTNIC ) May 15, 2015 - Jul 04, 2015 |
Sandra Ackermann / Wasteland Mar 13, 2015 - May 02, 2015 |
Lost Scapes Jan 30, 2015 - Mar 07, 2015 |
Christian Bazant-Hegemark / Calibrating Aesthetics Nov 14, 2014 - Jan 17, 2015 |
Frank Bauer / Back to Basics Aug 29, 2014 - Nov 08, 2014 |
Harding Meyer // recent paintings May 23, 2014 - Aug 23, 2014 |
Till Freiwald - memoria Apr 11, 2014 - May 17, 2014 |
Quadriennale Düsseldorf 2014 / Gallery Evening Apr 05, 2014 - Apr 05, 2014 |
Giacomo Costa // Traces Nov 22, 2013 - Jan 11, 2013 |
DC-Open Galleries: Matthias Danberg - Inventory by Appropriation Sepr 06, 2013 - Nov 16, 2013 |
Christian Bazant-Hegemark // VOW OF SILENCE May 24, 2013 - Aug 20, 2013 |
Corrado Zeni // Generation Why Apr 12, 2013 - May 18, 2013 |
behind the Non-Colours Mar 22, 2013 - Apr 06, 2013 |
Sandra Ackermann // Running to stand still Feb 15, 2013 - Mar 16, 2013 |
Düsseldorf Photo Weekend 2013 Feb 01, 2013 - Feb 09, 2013 |
Mihoko Ogaki // Star Tales - White Floating Nov 30, 2012 - Jan 31, 2013 |
Claudia Rogge / Lost in Paradise Oct 12, 2012 - Nov 24, 2012 |
Harding Meyer // features Sepr 07, 2012 - Oct 06, 2012 |
Summer 2012 - Part 2 Aug 10, 2012 - Sepr 01, 2012 |
Summer 2012 Jul 06, 2012 - Sepr 01, 2012 |
Maria Friberg // The Painting Series May 11, 2012 - Jun 23, 2012 |
Mary A. Kelly // Father & Child Mar 30, 2012 - May 06, 2012 |
Maia Naveriani // Future Wolves and Chicks so far Feb 10, 2012 - Mar 24, 2012 |
Düsseldorf Photo Weekend 2012 Feb 04, 2012 - Feb 08, 2012 |
Kate Waters // The Air that I breathe Dec 09, 2011 - Jan 28, 2012 |
Frank Bauer / ...den Wald vor lauter Bäumen.... Nov 04, 2011 - Dec 03, 2011 |
Claudia Rogge // Final Friday Sepr 09, 2011 - Oct 29, 2011 |
Davide La Rocca - STILLS May 27, 2011 - Jul 16, 2011 |
Giacomo Costa // Post Natural Apr 01, 2011 - May 21, 2011 |
Harding Meyer - to be a real vision Feb 18, 2011 - Mar 26, 2011 |
Shannon Rankin - Disperse / Displace Dec 03, 2010 - Feb 12, 2011 |
Sandra Ackermann // I look inside you Oct 15, 2010 - Nov 27, 2010 |
Amparo Sard / AT THE IMPASSE Sepr 03, 2010 - Oct 09, 2010 |
Kate Waters // The Land of Kubla Khan Jun 11, 2010 - Jul 17, 2010 |
Jurriaan Molenaar // Lessness Apr 30, 2010 - Jun 05, 2010 |
Claudia Rogge // The Paradise of the Onlooker Mar 05, 2010 - Apr 24, 2010 |
Ivonne Thein // incredible me Jan 22, 2010 - Feb 27, 2010 |
Frank Bauer // Jet Set Nov 27, 2009 - Jan 15, 2010 |
Michael Koch // forever more Oct 23, 2009 - Nov 21, 2009 |
Masaharu Sato // SIGNS Sepr 04, 2009 - Oct 17, 2009 |
Harding Meyer // blind date Jun 19, 2009 - Aug 22, 2009 |
Maria Friberg // way ahead Apr 24, 2009 - Jun 13, 2009 |
Claudia Rogge - The Opening Mar 06, 2009 - Apr 18, 2009 |
Claudia Rogge // Isolation ( aus: Segment 8 - die Blasen der Gesellschaft) Mar 06, 2009 - Apr 18, 2009 |
JoJo Tillmann // What you see is what you get Jan 30, 2009 - Feb 28, 2009 |
Sandra Ackermann // Die Wirklichkeit ist nicht die Wahrheit Nov 21, 2008 - Jan 24, 2009 |
Kate Waters - Getting used to the 21st Century Oct 10, 2008 - Nov 15, 2008 |
Mihoko Ogaki - Milky Ways Sepr 04, 2008 - Oct 04, 2008 |
Summer 2008 // Painting Aug 12, 2008 - Aug 30, 2008 |
Silke Rehberg: Stationen 1,4,6,7,11,12,13,14 Jun 13, 2008 - Jul 12, 2008 |
Maia Naveriani: At home with good ideas May 09, 2008 - Jun 07, 2008 |
Justin Richel: Rise and Fall Apr 04, 2008 - May 03, 2008 |
Davide La Rocca - Strange Object Feb 08, 2008 - Mar 28, 2008 |
Frank Bauer: AkikoAlinaAlinkaAndrew.... Nov 30, 2007 - Feb 02, 2008 |
Maria Friberg: Fallout Oct 12, 2007 - Nov 24, 2007 |
Harding Meyer / in sight Sepr 06, 2007 - Oct 11, 2007 |
SUMMER '07 Jul 17, 2007 - Sepr 01, 2007 |
Kay Kaul - Wasserfarben Jun 15, 2007 - Jul 14, 2007 |
Sandra Ackermann - Point Blank Mar 02, 2007 - Apr 28, 2007 |
Tamara K.E.: pioneers -none of us and somewhere else Jan 19, 2007 - Feb 24, 2007 |
Till Freiwald Nov 17, 2006 - Jan 13, 2007 |
Claudia Rogge: U N I F O R M Sepr 01, 2006 - Nov 11, 2006 |
Kate Waters: Killing Time May 05, 2006 - Jun 17, 2006 |
Katia Bourdarel: The Flesh of Fairy Tales Mar 31, 2006 - Apr 29, 2006 |
Mihoko Ogaki Feb 10, 2006 - Mar 18, 2006 |
Silke Rehberg: RICOMINCIARE DAL CORPO Jan 27, 2006 - Feb 26, 2006 |
Sandra Ackermann Dec 08, 2005 - Jan 15, 2006 |
Corrado Zeni Dec 04, 2005 - Jan 11, 2006 |
Frank Bauer Nov 18, 2005 - Jan 15, 2006 |
Harding Meyer Oct 07, 2005 - Nov 12, 2005 |
AUFTAKT Sepr 02, 2005 - Oct 01, 2005 |
Claudia Rogge: Rapport Jun 17, 2005 - Jul 20, 2005 |
May 13, 2005 - Jun 11, 2005 |
Kate Waters: Solo-Exhibition in the Gallery Thomas Cohn, Sao Paulo Apr 16, 2005 - May 20, 2005 |
Vittorio Gui: FROZEN MOMENTS Apr 08, 2005 - May 07, 2005 |
Kay Kaul - ARTSCAPES Apr 03, 2005 - May 29, 2005 |
SEO Geheimnisvoller Blick Mar 04, 2005 - Apr 02, 2005 |
Claudia van Koolwijk at Museum Bochum Feb 26, 2005 - Apr 17, 2005 |
Corrado Zeni - Six Degrees of Separation Nov 26, 2004 - Jan 15, 2005 |
Maia Naveriani: What' s the difference between ME and YOU? Oct 15, 2004 - Nov 20, 2004 |
Tamara K.E.: MAD DONNA AND DONNA CORLEONE Sepr 03, 2004 - Oct 09, 2004 |
Davide La Rocca: Real Vision Reflex Jun 12, 2004 - Jul 17, 2004 |
Kay Kaul COLLECTORSCAPES Apr 23, 2004 - Jun 05, 2004 |