Hoangortn

In the City Gallery of Bressanone, from September 2 to November 13, 2021, thanks to the contribution and the works of Charlotte Aurich, Margareth Kaserer, Franziska Schink and Maria Walcher, the exhibition Hoangortn will be created. The term "hoangortn" (South Tyrolean spelling) comes from the Middle High German "heingarte" and originally, in the South German-speaking area, referred to the garden in front of the houses of rural areas. Here the neighborhood met in convivial round to sit together comfortably. They chatted, played music, and perhaps even danced. Today the term often refers to non-commercial events for traditional folk music. As a tradition of rural culture in South Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, the custom of "hoangortn" created a sense of identity and community among people and also offered them time off from hard work for a short while. What is interesting here is the focus on the people and the shared (good) time. The custom has no religious roots and follows no precise procedures or rites. Thus, "hoangortn" is ultimately not tied to any specific place or single activity. Rather, it is a state, a feeling that can be created by anyone at any time. Unlike most traditions and customs, which over time become reactionary and no longer resonate, the "hoangortn" is open and transformable. It can be adapted to the spirit of the times and even constantly shape and change it, as it creates space for exchange and discussion. At a time when meeting with loved ones is sometimes impossible, and at the same time the world is in dire need of strengthening small communities that look out for each other, the Hoangortn exhibition seeks to promote this state of affairs and remind us of its existence. The four artists shown create a variety of approaches to "hoangortn" in the exhibition space through diverse media and themes. From thinking about and representing the activity, to pointing out societal ills through and within traditions, to seeking a state of "hoangortn" in art itself.