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Exhibition: Woher, Wohin
Artist: Adrian Uncrut
Period: 24 February – 24 March 2022

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Adrian Uncrut’s work is shaped by his education in sculpture and restoration at the National University of Arts in Bucharest. While in his early years he still relied on composing and planning, in recent years he has increasingly shifted to working intuitively.

The themes that preoccupy him are personal, everyday and above all human.

Uncrut finds inspiration in artists he admires, such as Beys, Duchamp or Baselitz. Everyday encounters with friends, family members and fellow artists are also translated into his drawings with humor. Additionally, figures from Christian and mythological narratives repeatedly appear in his work. The artist poses contemporary questions such as: Where do I come from? Where is our society heading, and what does our current handling of resources imply?

A recurring theme in Uncrut’s work is “moving forward.” As a visual motif, he has chosen the vehicle, which serves as a symbol of movement. “The vehicle,” Uncrut explains, “represents both the present from which we cannot break free and a passage through space.”

Consequently, there are two levels – a subjective level, in which personal development and the longing to escape the present are explored, and a physical level, which concerns movement itself. This also raises questions about our spaces of movement – where do our feet carry us over the course of our lives? To what extent do our daily routes, relocations, and travels shape us and our environment?

The centerpiece of the exhibition is the sculpture Arche Noah. It features a figure made of epoxy resin, with a boat strapped to its back, filled with severed high-voltage cables. The figure stands on a blue-lit base, arms raised, appearing to take a step forward.

In the sculpture, Uncrut unites three biblical figures: Moses, who raises his hands to part the sea and save the Israelites from the Egyptians; Noah, who builds an ark at God’s command; and Jesus, who walks over the water to reach his disciples and protect them from a storm. The sculpture also references contemporary themes and motifs. The boat can signify many things – a saving ark, offering hope of a better world, or a precarious vessel that could capsize at any moment. The severed high-voltage cables are a reference to our handling of resources and how modern technology governs our lives. Ultimately, the figure appears to balance on water, constantly at risk of sinking – a sensation many recognize from recent years’ experiences.

Notably, Uncrut demonstrates an extraordinary handling of materials in both sculpture and drawing. He combines bronze, epoxy resin, iron, stainless steel, wood, rubber, plaster, and often recycled found objects into autonomous works. In drawing, he uses charcoal, watercolor, tape, various papers, or even coffee, achieving a unique, individual visual language. By using handmade paper, his works gain a special, almost three-dimensional texture and give the impression of thin reliefs rather than purely two-dimensional pieces.

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