The Houses Of The Serpent Bearer

'I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.' – Gaston Bachelard As part of Berlin Art Week 2024, Galerie Noah Klink is delighted to present the exhibition The Houses Of The Serpent Bearer. The 3rd House, initiated by Pina Bendfeld. This show is an edition of the nomadic series The Houses Of The Serpent Bearer, a non-linear, nomadic exhibition series following the logics of the astrological cycle. Conceptually, the series refers to the myth of the 13th sign of the zodiac; the Serpent Bearer. It acts as a symbolic guide and stands for that which we do not (want to) see – but which nevertheless influences us. The exhibition features works by Yara Asmar – musician and puppeteer from Beirut –, Pina Bendfeld – artist, writer, and curator from Düsseldorf – and Ukrainian artist Yevgeniya Kuzmenko, who works under the name Atelier Planeta in Warsaw. Together, they create an exceptional scenario through video works and expansive installations, transforming the gallery into an enchanting stage. The video installations comprise black-and-white short films projected onto large scale puppet theaters draped in textiles. These veiled stages evoke the haunting atmosphere of abandoned spaces, straddling the line between remnants of human presence and their absence. This evocative setup immerses viewers in a realm where past and present converge in a fragmented temporal experience. A specially composed sound piece subtly enhances this atmosphere of gentle melancholy. Yara Asmar, whose 2023 album Synth Waltzes and Accordion Laments was recognized by Pitchfork as one of the year's best experimental releases, plays a central role in this exhibition. Her innovative video and sound works enter into a mesmerizing dialogue with Pina Bendfeld’s conceptual scenographic interventions—featuring puppet houses and otherworldly masks—and Atelier Planeta’s symbolically rich collaged textiles. The exhibition delves into a subtle yet compelling sense of melancholy that emerges whenencountering spaces and objects that, though unchanged, no longer evoke the anticipated emotions. It reflects on the paradox of temporality by illuminating the fragile nature of memory and the fictions we inhabit. The nostalgia explored here does not merely signify a yearning for the past but rather an unease stemming from the disjunction between memory, embedded emotions, and shifting perceptions. Thematically, the exhibition references fictions, fables, and childhood puppet plays, both scenographically and cinematically, transforming the gallery into a living storybook. This space weaves together diverse narratives and concepts, offering visitors a magical and contemplative experience. The works invite viewers to ponder the intricate relationships between physical space, memory, and the subjective experience of time. Accompanying the exhibition, the collaborative artist book There Was, There Wasn’t. Fables in Fragments by CUTT Press and Pina Bendfeld will be published in an edition of 50 unique copies, which are available for purchase. A reading in collaboration with Hopscotch Reading Room will take place on September 20th.