Installation views
Untitled ("Knowledge would not necessarily..."), 2023 | , Pastel, chalks, oil on canvas
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
We are delighted to present „The Always Never-Yet“, a new exhibition by Muntean/Rosenblum at Galerie Ron Mandos running from 30 September through 29 October.
The Vienna-based artist-duo Markus Muntean (AT, 1962) and Adi Rosenblum (IL, 1962) draw inspiration from the relentless passage of time and the state of expectancy that defines many people’s daily lives in ,,The Always Never-Yet.” Here, they explore pathos — the art of evoking emotions to engage viewers — fully embracing the viewer’s ideals and harnessing symbols and visual formations to evoke intense emotional energy. In a world where pathos often resides in popular entertainment and advertising, Muntean/Rosenblum aim to revive its potency in fine art.
In the artwork Untitled (,,Knowledge would not necessarily…”), young people appear somewhat adrift on an escalator within what seems to be a shopping mall. This superficially mundane scene carries an unsettling atmosphere, reflecting the peculiar nature of our everyday existence. It highlights how the ordinary, like a shopping mall, can acquire an eerie quality, evoking unexpected emotions. These paintings often incorporate captions from poetry, such as Michael Hamburger’s work, to evoke unforeseen associations, deepening the emotional resonance of their pieces.
Gestures play a central role in their exploration of expression; the series artfully blends contemporary TikTok movements with expressive motions found in classic paintings. This infusion of modernity extends further, merging references from Christian iconography, Kabbala, classical and contemporary masterpieces, street culture, and rap. Their work bridges tradition and innovation, offering a fresh perspective on the enduring power of pathos in the digital age.
Muntean/Rosenblum’s work transcends mere aesthetics, inviting viewers to appreciate the intricacies of composition, the sources of their models and landscapes, the allure of their figures, and the meticulous craftsmanship they employ. This attention to form and detail serves as a gateway to understanding the multifaceted, clever nature of their art, which delves deeply into the collective human condition. In an era of digital communication, it underscores the importance of shared struggles in human connection, like the universal frustration of waiting in an airport, depicted in one of their paintings, or the isolation felt by individuals engrossed in their phones while surrounded by others.
Their art captures the subtlety of human interaction, akin to interpreting facial expressions or spoken cadence. It serves as a reminder that beneath daily routines, truths await discovery. They can be found in the emotions we experience when confronted with the disconcerting and the familiar simultaneously, the feelings of lostness amid the ordinary, and the eerie beauty that emerges from this juxtaposition.
