THE BENCH is an exhibition which demands an expansion or perhaps even deceleration of time, thereby consciously establishing a contrast to our "accelerated society“ (Peter Glotz). The "bench" is utilized as a metaphor for stepping out of everyday life, which, crowded as it is with events and experiences, hardly allows space for personal observation.
The artworks of Michael Beutler, Katarzyna Józefowicz and Phoebe Washburn prove to be exceptionally complex in their intricacy and sheer immensity. They establish their own time requirements and construct a form of spatial and temporal urgency which doesn't exist outside the context of art. Their works cannot be deciphered as if they were simple codes. Their content can only be approached through repeated contemplation of their visual structure. This process of perception is rich and utterly inexhaustible.

THE BENCH questions the identity of the art work and of the visitor, as they are established in the moment of perception. In the art context, at this moment a dimension of identity can emerge, where the spheres of viewer and work become permeable. The limits of a consumable structure are purposefully abandoned in favour of visual overflow: Instead of consuming art works as a viewer, the works themselves consume us in their delay of an unending process of perception.
The show is produced in cooperation with Kunstverein Bonn (D).

The exhibition was generously supported by:
Akris, St. Gallen / Mr. Michael Buschor, Balgach / Ganz & Co. AG, St. Gallen / Ms. Christina Gysi, St. Gallen / Mrs. Hannelore Fuchs-Stärkle, Rorschach / Ms. Karen Hauser, St. Gallen / Hiag AG, Ermatingen / Mr. Ananda Hüppi, Marbach /ifa, Stuttgart / Pro Helvetia, Krakau / Kabe-Farben, Gossau / Ms. Sandra Köller, Hundwil / Ms. Marianne Pabst, Kesswil / Mr. Alexander Raschle, St. Gallen / SFS Unimarket, Heerbrugg