Berlin | ArtRegion: Berlin, Neukölln

Karl Oskar

Jann Holstein: Emergenz

6. November – 15. Dezember 2021

Karl Oskar Gallery is proud to present “EMERGENZ” — a solo exhibition by Jann Holstein, featuring a series of paintings that deal with the subject of myths, stories and conspiracy theories. The title refers to emergence theory (attributed originally to Aristotle), which describes the dynamic quality of systems whose elements, through their interactions, generate entirely new structures. Our collective capacity for meaning-making may be described as an emergent process through which narratives emerge from snippets of history and memory. In his work, Jann Holstein explores the possibilities of new meanings that emerge from the gaps and empty spaces in our stories.

As much as conspiracy thinking permeates the current political climate and represents a formidable force in our public discourse, it is hardly a new phenomenon. Fantastical stories have deep roots that stretch far back into human history — evidence of the human need to make sense of the unknown, faced with events and processes which are too complex to fathom. In some ways questioning and suspiciousness may be part of the human survival strategy and ingrained in our DNA. From the moon landing to the Heaven’s Gate cult, Jann Holstein’s paintings deal with the big stories that have provided fertile soil for our collective imagination. They captivate us because they are opaque to us, full of blind spots and dark corners where ideas are born. In these gaps, where fear and fascination mingle, new perspectives emerge.