ST. GALLEN.- The exhibitions by Amalia Pica and Karsten Födinger are another example of how Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen aims to stimulate the dialogue between two widely different artistic positions. This exhibition model, which builds on contrasts, is intended to generate new and fruitful conclusions for artists and public. Whereas Karsten Födinger from Germany works with spectacular architectonic, almost brutal interventions in space, Argentinean artist Amalia Pica brings together poetry and political content in a very sensitive way. Both thus point towards the notion of structures in the physical and the abstract senses as well as the problems associated with them, whether they be of an institutional or of socio-political nature.

Amalia Pica announces listening as the central theme of her exhibition in the title. In «Chronic Listeners» she presents a constellation of new and existing works in which she addresses the problem of communication and sensory perception. Figuratively the artist also thereby refers to the relationship between artwork and viewer. The exhibited objects – which influence hearing, for example like earplugs or a tribune and can be defined as apparatus – generate a narrative context which turns viewers into listeners. Pica’s works, which have a strong sculptural character, become the embodiment of synaesthetic moments and thereby a precise metaphor for the sensuous overlaps fostered by the contemplation of art.

Karsten Födinger’s cryptic exhibition title «C30/37; XD1, XF2» is an exact reference to construction and engineering: the formula is a specification and designates a particular class of strength and exposure of concrete. In the large exhibition hall the artist has completed a monumental sculpture in the form of a mould which includes all three columns of the early modernist frame construction (built in 1907) and has the dimensions of a bridge pier. With his installation Födinger questions the statics of the warehouse in which the Kunst Halle is accommodated and shows the limits of the exhibition space. Here he has created an artwork of minimalist beauty that however has the potential to cause the building to collapse.

The Mark Pezinger Verlag is a guest in the foyer of the Kunst Halle and is presenting its publications with a specially designed display. The publishing house is a non-commercial project by Karsten Födinger and Thomas Geiger which concentrates on artists’ books that are seen as sculptural objects. Since its foundation in 2009 it has issued 29 publications.

Amalia Pica (*1978, Argentina, lives in London) studied at the Instituto Universitario Nacional del Arte, at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes P.P. (I.U.N.A.) in Buenos Aires and at the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam. Solo exhibitions took place (amongst others) at the following institutions and galleries: University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor (US); Chisenhale Gallery, London; SKOR, Inkijk, Amsterdam (NL) (2011); Malmo Konsthall (SE); Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam (NL); MARC FOXX, Los Angeles; Project Room Gallery Klemms, Berlin (2010) and Onomatopee, Eindhoven (NL) (2009). Further, she participated in various group exhibitions such as: Foundation Ricard, Paris and FRAC Bordeaux (FR) (2012); ILLUMInations, 54th Biennale, Venice; Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (AT) (2011); Chelsea Space, London; Aichi Arts Center, Nagoya City Art Museum (JP) and Gallery Christina Wilson, Copenhagen (2010).

Karsten Födinger (*1978, Germany) graduated from the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe, where he was a master pupil ("Meisterschüler") of Professor Meuser from 2008 to 2009. He realised solo shows in the following institutions and galleries: Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2011); RaebervonStenglin, Zurich and projektraum4, Mannheim (DE) (2009). Group exhibition in which Födinger participated took place (amongst others) at: SALTS, Birsfelden (CH) (2010); Städtische Galerie, Karlsruhe (DE); Temporäre Kunsthalle, Berlin; Galerie Iris Kadel, Karlsruhe (DE); Haus für Kunst Uri (CH) (2010); Hotel Beethoven, Bonn (DE); Villa Merkel, Esslingen (DE); Pension Flora, Mönchengladbach (DE) (2009); BBK Südbaden, Freiburg (DE) and train station Freiburg (DE) (2004).