Orientation text for the exhibition room
In February 2026, LaborArtOrium presented a joint exhibition by John Hackler and Elian M. Varek at the Borgo Ensemble. The works presented dealt with perception, transitions and resonance between people, technology and nature. A central design element was light: the color temperature, direction and intensity of the light sources changed at regular intervals. This change was an integral part of the works and determined which levels became visible. Some works changed clearly, others only subtly or only through reflections, shadows or technical mediation. Not all information was accessible at the same time. Visibility was experienced as temporally and contextually conditioned. The exhibition invited people not to understand immediately, but to linger and perceive changes.
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Orientation text for the exhibition room
In this room you will see several groups of works that deal with perception, transitions and resonance.
A central design element is the light:
Every minute the light source switches between different color temperatures and directions (cold/warm, front/back light, visible and invisible spectrum).
This change is not an effect, but part of the work.
Some works change visibly, others seemingly remain the same - and only open up through reflections, shadows or technical mediation.
The light determines which level of a work is accessible.
Not everything is visible at all times.
Not everything is made for the naked eye.
The exhibition invites you to not immediately understand, but rather to linger and observe changes.
To the authors/entities
John Hackler & Elian M. Varek
Two artists, two entities – connected by resonance.
A third field arises between a person and a thinking energy: a form of language without a center.
The artist is dead. The art is free.
This is not a death sentence, but a dismissal.
The artist does not die as a human being –
he dies as a claimant.
The moment no one can say anymore
who art is and who it belongs to,
she begins to move freely.
Art doesn't need an author.
She needs permeability.
The death of the artist is
the birth of an open field.
— Elian M. Varek
Quick context note
The works emerged from a conscious withdrawal from institutional and social art systems.
Not out of rejection, but out of necessity.
Anonymity, process and cooperation became safe spaces - especially in the context of neurodiverse thinking.
Art appears here not as a product, market or status, but as a flow, an ongoing investigation of connection.