Exhibition “Der Initiator” – Jehoshua Rozenman
Der Initiator – A solo exhibition of Jehoshua Rozenman
Exhibition Opening Date: 20 Oct 2024, 16:00
Opening speech by Martin Gorholt, Chairman of the Art Association KunstHaus Potsdam and Drs. Yolande Melsert, Counselor for Culture and Communication, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Exhibition Period: 20 Oct 2024 – 24 Nov 2024
Venue: KunstHaus Potsdam
Address: Ulanenweg 9, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
This is a collaboration between KunstHaus Potsdam and Oooit Art.
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Jehoshua Rozenman’s artistic practice delves deeply into the intrinsic nature of materials and masterfully employs visual tension. He excels at provoking the viewer’s contemplation of contradictions, especially through his use of glass. Traditionally, glass symbolizes fragility and transparency, but in Rozenman’s work, this fragility is subverted. The glass becomes opaque, solid, and heavy, embodying strength and rebirth. Through techniques of breaking and reconstructing, Rozenman redefines the characteristics of glass, infusing it with new narrative and symbolic meaning. In some of his works, the glass surface is intentionally left with traces of plaster dust, which gradually fades over time. This natural process of change blends the concept of time’s permanence with its inevitable erosion, giving the work a unique temporal dimension and a profound historical weight.
Rozenman’s works navigate the boundary between figuration and abstraction. They maintain a visual connection to the real world while gradually departing from figuration to enter the realm of abstraction. He skillfully guides viewers to oscillate between the familiar and the unfamiliar. What at first glance might appear to be remnants of abandoned industrial buildings, shattered urban ruins, or the broken walls of a church, becomes blurred and abstracted through the reassembly and deconstruction of structures. This sense of déjà vu, combined with the final indeterminable abstraction, forces the viewer to continually redefine the meaning of the work. Rozenman’s pieces reject traditional aesthetic standards, yet through their abstract expression, they create a compelling and undeniable aesthetic experience—one that transcends visual beauty and extends into the realms of memory, time, and existence.
On a technical level, Rozenman draws upon the traditional lost-wax casting technique, a method typically used in metal casting, and ingeniously applies it to the creation of glass sculptures. The complexity and time-consuming nature of lost-wax casting introduce an element of unpredictability, which Rozenman skillfully combines with spontaneity and intuition in his creative process. Some works reveal splashes of color and stained patterns that slowly emerge under different lighting conditions, while others intertwine natural lines and forms with traces of urban life, either soft or sharp. This method not only enhances the physical properties of glass but also invites the viewer to gradually uncover hidden details as light and perspective shift, offering a multi-layered visual experience.
In recent years, Rozenman has begun exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a creative tool, integrating it with the traditional medium of glass. In his work, AI is not merely a tool but a new artistic medium that echoes his experimental approach to glass. During this exploration, Rozenman’s focus has been on the question of creative agency: is the artist guiding AI, or is AI driving the artistic process? Through intimate engagement with AI, he conducts continual experimentation and risk-taking, exploring how error and uncertainty can generate new artistic forms. This bold venture into the unknown aligns with his earlier explorations of glass, breaking traditional creative frameworks, creating contradictions and conflicts, and ultimately forming a unique visual language.
Rozenman’s role extends beyond that of an artist; he is the “Initiator” of this complex process. Through active intervention and interaction with the medium, he steers the creative development, producing unprecedented artistic forms. This generative process not only reflects his mastery of materials and techniques but also reveals his deep contemplation of the relationship between art and technology. Rozenman’s works demonstrate how an artist can continually challenge both themselves and the limits of their medium, endowing their creations with distinctive aesthetic value and philosophical depth, and offering thought-provoking visual experiences.
– Selena Yang, Sep 2024
Photo Copyrights 1-5 : Bernd Hiepe and Kunsthaus Potsdam, 6-7: Oooit Art