Text for Solo Exhibition ‘ONDERSTROOM’ / ‘UNDERCURRENT’
When the light travels from the sun, blue tones disperse once they reach the earth’s atmosphere. A grand blue horizon takes shape because of this colour that scatters into the sky. Something similar occurs once the light reaches the surface of the ocean. Red, yellow and green will be mostly absorbed, but blue travels all the way down, into its depths. The deeper the ocean, the deeper the colour blue will be.
Gazing at the horizon and the clouds it holds, is as looking at the ocean and its waves; a longing for the unattainable that is both bewildering and comforting. ‘The world is blue at its edges and in its depths’[1], Rebecca Solnit beautifully states. The insurmountable distance between these environments and human beings, is captivating and something to endlessly obsess and contemplate over. There is still to this day, so much that is left undiscovered about the ocean and all the species it holds. Its mystery and opacity create not only space for speculation, but also for fantasy and wandering – getting lost in time and thoughts. As such, its inherent distance may, paradoxically, bring us closer to the edges of the world through the process of imagination.
These are elements that capture my mind whilst thinking about Lili Berger and her work as well. Within her artistic practice, Lili allows her mind to roam whilst surrendering herself to the material. By creating endless shapes and forms, which often remind of sea-like creatures, she lets go of the notion of time and sinks deeply into her subconsciousness. Here, she composes her own introspective landscape, where imagination, emotions and intuition are able to flow freely into their tactile translations. As Lili surrenders to the material, she surrenders to the invisible elements that move her from within – creating space for a sense of freedom which reminds of the endlessness of the ocean itself.
Lili Berger’s solo-exhibition ‘Undercurrent’ invites visitors to discover all the elements that move and wander below the surface. With a beautiful sensitivity for materials such as ceramics, embroidery and different types of wire, she continues to expand her unique artistic and artisanal expression. The joy Lili feels whilst making work, sparks through in the way she treats the material, as it is loaded with so much thought, feeling and intention in every detail. It reminds me how important it is to let go and allow yourself to feel free within your emotions. To let them be as clouds in the sky or waves in the ocean - constantly moving, shaping, shifting and turning. Constantly fading and reappearing around the conscious surface.
You are warmly invited to experience and celebrate the mesmerising world that Lili Berger creates within her artistic work.
Catelijne Boele, artist / curator ‘Undercurrent’ - November 2023
[1] Rebecca Solnit: ‘A field guide to getting lost’ (2017), Canongate Books, page 29