Vernissage "The Unrequested"

On 10 January 2025, Notagallery will open its first exhibition of the year. Building on what we learnt in 2024, and from our last exhibition ‘Geshlossene Geselschaft’, this exhibition invited national and international artists with any medium to transcend the demands of the mercantile, seeking to explore true creative freedom and reimagining the purpose of art.

The exhibition aims to question the structures that shape our understanding of reality. What does art become when the work itself is free from market forces, institutional validation and algorithmic tendencies?

Art has long been intertwined with the systems of patronage, commerce and consumerism, from the grand commissions of the Renaissance to the algorithm-driven trends of today. But what happens to art when it leaves these systems? The Unrequested seeks to examine this question, proposing a radical space in which creativity flourishes free of external expectations, market pressures or the need for validation.

This idea is deeply rooted in philosophical and critical perspectives that challenge the commodification of art. As Boris Groys discusses in Art Power (2008), contemporary art often exists in a state of dependence on institutional frameworks and market systems. Groys argues that true artistic freedom lies in the ability to operate outside these structures, engaging instead in acts of resistance or speculative exploration. 

Building on these critiques, The Unrequested aims to portray art as an autonomous force, driven by curiosity, exploration and challenge. The exhibition encouraged artists to imagine works that challenge the normative boundaries of what is considered ‘valuable’ or ‘desirable’ in today's hyper-commercialised art world. 

Event Details Event: Grand Opening of Notagallery’s Group Exhibition The Unrequested Date: January 10, 2024, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Location: Notagallery, Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 5, 10785 Berlin RSVP Only: https://buytickets.at/notagallery/1504157 

Host or Publisher Notagallery