Summary of the 2 days lasting Ontology Gathering. End April 2026.

Ontology, Life by: aries, care & traces

 
This text is not an exact reproduction of our meeting, but a very short description of the atmosphere,
Artists which think in universal terms and with a highly environmentally conscious.

The search for new perspectives and the creation of new conditions for perception were very important to Georg Baselitz, he ‘turned the body upside down’. His aim was to provoke and shift perspectives. Alongside the artworks, attention should also be paid to the things that influence us, to what absorbs our senses, and to working with these. When we reflect on our world, which is moving at ever-increasing speeds and generating non-degradable waste, then reading this as a call for a change in mindset – that perspectives and actions are urgently needed – is essential.
From what sensitive and reflective position do we bring our everyday desires and needs into play, and how do these relate to natural resources, which imaginations arise? We spoke about the climate; do we act accordingly! The question of what generates Joy (framed by sensitivity & reflection) should always be taken into account and brought into the creative space. We discussed and emphasized, our focus must be on regeneration, cyclicality and the lifespan.

In other words: through which activities does my very short life acquire meaningful value (responsibility and, above all, care for everyone, especially the most vulnerable)? A valuable ‘YES’ strengthens presents us in full bloom. This bloom (the joy and the care) enlivens my inner self and conveys a sense of vitality outwards, to other (natural and abstract) entities. Saskia Edens reminded us of the inscriptions, the traces in the caves of Fontainebleau.

Our knowledge, experiences and sensitivities become only productive when this triad is reflected upon, so that we can use it as a basis for developing a vision, read here also: imagination, e.g. picture of the future. Imagination is always part of the future; it is always a process. It is life in the making, actions and works that do not stand in opposition to others, but are aware that one’s own existence only flourishes through integration, connection and giving. During the production phase of our project, each of us should reflect on how our individual contribution best strengthens the fabric (nature, plants, animals, humanity, technology). Since life is a process, there is much to be said for making process-oriented contributions, open works to interpret as: “leaving traces”.

Our culture is on the right track when we set aside what demands ‘profound significance’ and approach discourse with humor (and reflection). In other words: we should increasingly recognize ourselves in what leaves its mark (traces). Leaving new, light traces is a good guiding principle; others may pick them up and carry them further, or overlook them entirely – that’s fine too, and following set guidelines is alien to the act of leaving traces. Ideally, contemplation and lightness, read:  the airy, would combine in this active process to give rise to a spirit (Spiritus) that animates the traces over a longer period, yet finds its validity without the coercion of a claim to validity; presence and engagement (read: exchange & care) are enough for us.
Insofar as the artistic ideas during this two-day conference.


Harm Lux  
May 4th, 2026