Kassandra

“Kassandra” by Susanne Hopmann "Now my curiosity, directed also at myself, is completely free. When I recognized this, I cried out loudly, on the crossing, I, like everyone else, miserable, battered by the sea, wet to the skin from the splashing spray, bothered by the howling and the emanations of the other Trojan women, not well-disposed towards me, for everyone always knew who I am." (Kassandra, Christa Wolf) Truthful, and unable to be otherwise, the prophetess Cassandra tries to warn her people against the war with the Greeks and the conquest of Troy. In vain. No one listens to her. She is cursed to speak the truth for the rest of her life, but for no one to believe her prophecies. The myth of Cassandra and Christa Wolf's narrative are more relevant today than ever. A tragic tale of our time, where warning voices are ignored, and people turn away from the inevitable. Solutions are not actively sought, even though it is known that the voices of thousands of Cassandras worldwide speak the truth, but rather ways to dampen, quieten, and ignore these warning signals. 'The Strong' refuses to accept this, as it means abandoning one's own worldviews, the safest and firmest anchor of one's own ego, changing course, taking responsibility, and acting differently. One deceives oneself, believing that time and what lies ahead can be halted. Susanne Hopmann skillfully conveys this message in a clear and unmistakable yet gentle manner through her work. The individual objects materialize as components of a larger whole, stemming from individual experiences and sensations, reflections, and reactions to the external world and environment. The centerpiece and starting point of the work is the narrative of Cassandra. Those who do not understand Cassandra today choose not to understand her. Susanne's diverse installation work will continue to evolve, change, and expand. It is not to be seen as static but rather as a complex and constantly changing construct.