English
Deutsch
until 12.04. | #4142ARTatBerlin | Galerie Kornfeld shows from 1. March 2024 the exhibition Ornament als Versprechen of artists Jan Tichy and Jay Gard .
KORNFELD Galerie Berlin presents the artists Jan Tichy and Jay Gard together in an exhibition for the first time. Under the title “Ornament as Promise”, the exhibition brings together a series of small-format cyanotypes by Jan Tichy and sculptures with paintings by Jay Gard, both united by their shared enthusiasm for ornament.
The exhibition title “Ornament als Versprechen” (“Ornament as Promise”) derives from Adolf Loos’ seminal essay “Ornament and Crime.” Loos’ premise disregards ornament as decadent and unnecessary, emphasizing instead the importance of the pure object.
The works of Jay Gard and Jan Tichy reinterpret ornament by striving to fulfill Loos’ philosophy by making ornament itself the pure object. There are no unnecessary embellishments or decorations in their representation of the ornament. Instead, the ornament is abstracted, from its original context and transformed into a substantial and meaningful motif.
In a contemporary creative twist, Gard and Tichy transform ornament from simple decoration to a didactic tool, one which gives insight into 21st-century art. In doing so, Tichy and Gard engage with the formal language of the Bauhaus and, seemingly paradoxically, a profound celebration of ornament. The Bauhaus is particularly significant to both artists, as both lived and worked as residency artists in one of the Master Houses. This culminates in a original and idiosyncratic creative synthesis that simultaneously challenges the fundamental principles of the Bauhaus while celebrating the beauty of ornament.
Jan Tichy – Born in 1974 in Prague, Czech Republic, Jan Tichy is an Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His works have been featured in international biennials and exhibitions, and he has received numerous prestigious awards. For example, he had solo exhibitions at MCA Chicago, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, CCA Tel Aviv, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and Chicago Cultural Center. His works are represented in public collections such as the MoMA in New York and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Jan Tichy presents a fascinating series of cyanotypes based on a Perecian approach. He explores the boundaries and protective mechanisms that define urban spaces by documenting architectural objects such as fences, railings, and grids around Rue des Archives. In an innovative attempt to map the city, Jan Tichy guides us through the distinctive features and “building blocks” of its various districts.
Jay Gard – Born in 1984 in Halle/Saale, Jay Gard lives and works in Berlin and has been CoCurator of the BcmA Gallery since 2022. His work has been acknowledged in numerous solo and group exhibitions and has received several grants and awards. For instance, as part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Chemnitz, Jay Gard’s artistic concept for a public space work was selected for implementation. Jay Gard draws inspiration for his ornaments from traditional art objects. In particular, he is dedicated to rediscovering and highlighting often overlooked treasures: the picture frames of old masters. Jay Gard emphasizes these frames’ beauty and artistic features, which are usually overshadowed by the actual painting. His works are a homage to art history and a call to bring often marginally noticed art into the spotlight.
Opening: Friday, 1. March 2024, 6pm – 9pm
Exhibition dates: Friday, 1. March 2024 – Friday, 12. April 2024
To the Gallery
Image caption: courtesy of Galerie Kornfeld, Jan Tichy & Jay Gard
Exhibition Jan Tichy & Jay Gard – Galerie Kornfeld | Zeitgenössische Kunst in Berlin | Contemporary Art | Ausstellungen Berlin Galerien | ART at Berlin
