Our present is full of contradictions, and many people long for certainty and clear categories. Yet these ambivalences persist—in our society, in global politics, and in our own lived experiences. The exhibition explores how artistic practices reveal tensions in our coexistence, in body images, and in human emotions.
Throughout the history of psychology, ambivalence has been described as a state in which conflicting emotions are experienced. In its extreme form, it can lead to inner conflicts. Although originally viewed negatively, ambivalence in art and literature can create a productive tension that sheds light on hidden power dynamics and introduces new structures. Thus, since the 20th century, ambivalence has no longer been regarded as a pathological symptom but is understood as part of subjective experience that can lead to more nuanced thinking. Looking back at art history, art of the 1960s and 1970s often presented the oppositions between woman/man and nature/technology in a polarizing way, in order to deconstruct them through artistic methods. Today, however, these oppositions are no longer so clear-cut; they have become more performative and ambivalent. The body, for example, is now understood as a temporary social construct that can resist classifications and norms.
In "Your Ambivalence," the artworks highlight the contradictory nature of perception. They trace a fluctuation between different interpretations and desires. The body becomes a fluid entity: its forms and gestures serve as means of communication between protection and freedom, while gender attributions are subverted. The pleasure in ambivalent images and sculptures is celebrated here to create a space for reflection that encompasses each viewer’s own perception of the world.

Website
kunstraumriehen.ch/en/page/your-ambivalence

Where
Kunst Raum Riehen
Im Berowergut
Baselstrasse 71
4125 Riehen

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