Ariane Mueller: Fish are folded into the sea just as the sea is folded into fish

Ariane Mueller’s exhibition is divided into two opposing spheres: war and peace. In the “war” section, large-format landscapes—sketched around Vienna, Styria, or inspired by Shi Tao—depict paths leading into seclusion. Painted using Cézanne-inspired brushwork and a six-foot-long brush handle, they explore the desire to withdraw from conflict and the impossibility of doing so. Animated ink dots projected onto the paintings disrupt quiet reflection with nervous energy.

The “peace” section features videos made between 1988 and 2023, projected onto room dividers arranged in the shape of a future star constellation. These works show moments of collective, non-purposeful action—ranging from playful street scenes to alternative broadcasts—emphasising time, freedom, and shared experience outside the demands of productivity. Together, the works ask what art can do in a world shaped by crisi