Tímea Fülöp’s curatorial concept focuses on artists whose practice is closely linked to technological and industrial development. The exhibited objects draw attention to the process by which new and old industrial processes, tools and materials are incorporated into art, complementing classical traditions. The discovery of unexpected features demonstrates the versatility of engineering thinking as much as artistic creativity.
Wood and metalworking, mining, glassmaking, the machinery that serves them, and construction are all important themes. The selected works nuance the sterility associated with manufacturing, from the uniformity of laser-cut elements to the precision of car paint guns, with an emphasis on their free use and a reference to artistic production and creation as work.
“Artists like to experiment, so they have always been influenced by scientific breakthroughs and technological developments, whether it was previously unknown pigments, reproduction processes or, more recently, ready-made and new media. In our present artistic trends, we can also observe a parallel progress with industry, but the phenomenon has become much more diversified thanks to the acceleration of development. The exhibition New Function seeks to systematise the technical possibilities embedded in the artwork, in order to trace the source of adaptations, while also revealing the impact of design and production on visuality”, said curator Tímea Fülöp, summing up the essence of the selection.
The exhibition not only explores how the development of computing has impacted on artistic practices, but also provides a space to show how the human hand is reappearing in digital design and print by presenting the current post-digital trend.