In his solo exhibition INVERSE, YOUNIVERSE, Olivier Goethals reflects on thought and action, and on the inversion of space and the self in space. This is Olivier Goethals' first institutional solo exhibition in Germany.

Olivier Goethals creates an experience that combines visual art and the idea of space into a multi-layered overall experience. His intervention reacts to the way we move in space and questions the visitor's pathways.

Scale, light and form are manipulated and controlled.

INVERSE, YOUNIVERSE A wooden structure connects and divides. The visitor enters a narrow, sunken space. A series of paintings unfolds along a new wall: Happy Harvest (2023-2024), 12 smiling, pastel-colored skulls. The distance between the painting and the visitor becomes very small. This proximity forces visitors to look closely at the works and expose themselves to them.

Visitors can enter the space behind through various openings. From inside to outside. A series of 12 line drawings, doubled and stretched thought images of time and space, can be seen here. (Speak In, Think Out, 2024). These works reflect the viewer's gaze from the inside (onto oneself) to the outside (into the surrounding space).

The exhibition INVERSE, YOUNIVERSE is organized as part of the larger project (UN)SYSTEMIC ENTANGLEMENTS (2024-2025), a trilogy of 3 solo exhibitions by the artists Ana Alenso - Olivier Goethals - Mariechen Danz.

"The world we have created is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking" (Albert Einstein). Inspired by this thought, this exhibition project explores and tests how we as humans are controlled by certain systems of thinking and how a change in thinking enables change. Systemic means that something is connected to an overarching system. In this three-part exhibition series, we investigate, through three artists' positions, what happens when defined systems are reversed?

Olivier Goethals studied architecture and urban planning. He works simultaneously as an architect and artist. In his wide-ranging practice he explores the connection between physical space and consciousness. Olivier Goethals has realized spatial interventions and artistic installations, among others for: Het Nieuwe instituut Rotterdam, Palais de Tokyo Paris, Design Triennale Milan, Z33 Hasselt, CIAP Hasselt, Extra City Antwerp, Be-Part Waregem, Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin... Previously he worked as a freelance architect for De Vylder Vinck Taillieu (2008-2016). Since 2010 he teaches at the Faculty of Architecture at the KU Leuven. He was a guest lecturer at RU Ghent, at the LUCA School of Arts Experimental Studio and at the ETH Zurich, Faculty of Architecture. Olivier is responsible for the design and realization of spatial interventions for the art collective 019-ghent and Kunsthalle Ghent.

The exhibition is funded by the Flemish Government.

Text: Pauline Doutreluingne