Ernst Barlach. The skeptic. Figures for a better world

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy (CELI), which brings together the Lutheran communities of the peninsula, has announced that from next June 13 will kick off in Venice, at the church in Campo SS. Apostoli in the Cannaregio district, the exhibition "Ernst Barlach - the skeptic: figures of a better world "that will end on September 13th.
 
In parallel to the Venice Biennale - 56th International Art Exhibition, in the picturesque setting of the old Renaissance School of the Guardian Angel, now a place of worship in the Lutheran lagoon, visitors can admire the works of Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) , one of the most important German artists of the twentieth century: its plastic works, drawings and graphic works are found in collections and museums around the world and his Angel suspended, Memorial Güstrow in Germany, is internationally known as a symbol and warning against the war.
During Nazism, the work of Barlach was even considered "degenerate" and hundreds of his works were confiscated, dismantled and partly destroyed, but his work - with, at the center, the human being and his fears, concerns and questions about the future - are still present today.
 
The exhibition is realized - as independent contribution to the 56th Venice Biennale, whose theme will be All the world's futures - by Ernst Barlach Gesellschaft Hamburg, in cooperation with the Lutheran Evangelical Community of Venice. In addition, he received the support of the VAH, Verein für Ausstellungshaus christliche Kunst eV München and Luther in 2017, such as the main sponsor, and is supported by the Consulate General of Germany in Milan and the United Church Evangelical Lutheran Germany, VELKD.
The exhibition is open every day (including Saturday and Sunday, and with the exception of only Tuesday closing) from 16 to 20 hours at the church of Campo SS. Apostoli in the Cannaregio district.
 
With the support of a detailed historical chronology text-image, which will place the production of the author in the global context of the twentieth century, those present will enjoy 40 sculptures of all stages of production of Barlach and 70 drawings and graphic works.
 
Ernst Barlach is, however, considered artistic ambassador of the anniversary of the Reformation in Venice: indeed, as Luther was Reformer of the Church, so Barlach was a reformer of the art.
And Luther not only binds a similar feeling of rebellion against the authority and toward a repressive and unjust situation, but especially the firm conviction of the fundamental role of freedom of thought and conscience.
 
With Luther, faith and doubt found their permanent place in the Church as a Church of the Reformation is always a Church of the skeptics, that God loves. In his time, he doubted Barlach instead of the promises of fortune tied to materialism and consumerism and tried the "counterimages", images of existential force that they were able to express the concerns and needs of the people, but also their hopes and their legitimate projections of the future. He considered himself a "seeker of God" and his whole life developed in an ongoing dialogue with the Protestant Church.
 
"The subjects or sculpted by Barlach impress with immense emotional charge that express: whether peasants or beggars, are playing or reading, or are desperate dreamers, fighting or in mourning, in ecstasy or in concentration, however, are all characterized empathy for others and for the fate of the world. That's why the exhibition of a similar artist, representing a high degree of solidarity and responsibility, is deeply significant for our community: for its intrinsic artistic and cultural value and for its relief moral and spiritual - explains Bernd Prigge, pastor of the Lutheran community of Venice - I am also convinced that this exposure can be, as in our tradition, also an opportunity for knowledge and mutual enrichment between us Lutherans and those of confession, religion or belief different. And, therefore, I extend a warm invitation to citizens and tourists that come to visit the exhibition and learn about our Lutheran community, the oldest in Italy. "

The presence of people in Venice Protestant dates back to the sixteenth century, that is, since the years of the Reformation of Martin Luther in its history the Lutheran Community of Venice has often had to show courage but, despite periodic harassment and repression, ideas Luther were not as opposed as elsewhere, thanks to the open-mindedness of the lagoon city in religious theme. Today, the small community of Venice is made up of 120 people in all, half of residents in the lagoon and the other half divided between Padua, Vicenza, Treviso and Abano Terme.

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