The word “Haltung” has a double meaning in German.

Firstly, it can describe the character or attitude which we can have, represent, show, develop or adopt. It can be political, moral, consistent or vague, radical or open. It shapes our personality and how we deal with issues, people and our environment.

Secondly, “Haltung” also means posture: it influences how others perceive and judge us. It can reveal our state of mind, it can impress. In dance in particular, different postures skilfully linked by movements are an aesthetic means of expression. “Haltung” has already been playing an enormous role in the visual arts for a long time, even in ancient sculptures.

The exhibition at NODEPRESSIONROOM Munich shows artistic works that deal with “Haltungen” (postures and attitudes) in various ways. What attitude do you show when encountering something new, unfamiliar and potentially dangerous? This question is addressed by the artistic work “Mutual Encounter”, whose elements spread out across the walls from the rear left corner and also take over parts of the floor. They are silver-coloured, matt shimmering structures made of aluminium and steel sheets with pointed, sharp-edged, repellent prongs which might evoke the association of teeth, claws, barbed wire or knife blades. There seems to be something dangerous about them. At the same time, the forms have an aesthetic effect due to their matt sheen and might even resemble flowers. The monochrome colour scheme is broken up by colourful friendship bracelets knotted from wool. In terms of their materiality and properties, they form a strong contrast to the metal elements. The ribbons are warm, soft, cuddly, colourful and symbolise friendship. When approaching the unknown, you will also discover things that may initially seem daunting, unfamiliar or dangerous. Nevertheless, the aim is to recognise the potential of the discovered and to approach it with friendship, respect and mutual openness. In the right half of the room, five prints from the “Haltung” series stretch across two walls. Steel shelves, which are normally used to carry loads, become image carriers and give the prints a sculptural, physical quality.

On display are abstract, sometimes slightly deconstructed, collage-like bodies in contrapposto, the posture that has been a creative means in sculpture for thousands of years and describes the tilting of the hips and the resulting shift in weight to bring more dynamics to the figures. This posture replaces stiffness by a feeling of liveliness which is reinforced in the prints by the silver-coloured surface that shimmers in the light, highlighting different areas of the images depending on the viewer's position and making the play of colours glow. At the same time, the series picks up on another aspect: If several people adopt exactly the same posture, the multitude creates a kind of formation or even a choreography. They become a group that belongs together and they jointly stand up for something.

The work “Meine WirbelSäule, dein RückGrat” ("My vertebral column, your backbone") is made from recycled plastic and approaches vertebrae and columns, crooked, winding, somersaulting and straight, upright backs, existing and non-existent spines, crouching bodies and proudly sticking out their chests, but also questions of attitude.

at NODEPRESSIONROOM Munich