CONCEPT

Utopia starts small

"Utopia starts small" uses the concept of Utopia and knowledge of how it has been exploited and misused in the course of history. At the same time, however, it also recognises its positive connotations. The exhibition sees a particular potential for this definition of the format, wherein a small scale can be interpreted as a nucleus for social and political change.

This is especially remarkable because until now two features in particular have traditionally been attributed to small-scale sculptures: a small format or dimension on the one hand and on the other the claim to be a finished, autonomous work of art.

In modern times, however, we can observe that another form of small-scale sculpture has developed. Artists who address the idea of Utopian models are extending the limited definition of the genre to date, thus overcoming its formal limitation to small format and completeness.

The 12th Fellbach Triennial concentrates on the significance of small-scale sculpture in the sense of a Utopian model. The premise is small format, and miniature dimensions are in the focus of interest. "Utopia starts small" pursues a contentual bias of small-scale sculpture as a model draft. As a result there is a productive contradiction between the fact that on the one hand the draft can be seen as a work of art in its own right, regardless of whether it is later to be realised in a larger format, and that at the same time it also contains the mental potential for change.

A total of about fifty artists of all generations will be represented at the 2013 12th Triennial of Small-scale Sculpture. Going beyond art, the exhibition examines exemplary approaches from architecture, theatre and design. In addition to historical positions, the focus will be on contemporary young artists whose works have largely arisen in situations of upheaval in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia.

By casting its attention increasingly on locations outside Europe, the 12th Triennial is reacting not only directly to our current global situation, but also forming a reference to the former editions of the Fellbach presentations based on the continents.

The accompanying catalogue with the same title includes, in addition to articles about the exhibiting artists, four scholarly essays dealing with: the socio-political significance of Utopia in its historical development; the thematization and development of Utopian models in art; and the aesthetics of small scale. The authors are Sarat Maharaj, Dieter Roestraete, Thomas Schölderle and Kerstin Stakemeier.