Be Andr - TAKT

Be Andr

Be Andr (b. 1978, Oslo) is an artist whose practice engages with the complex relationship between text, visual art, and code. Based in London, he holds a PhD and MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, alongside a BA in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art. His work has been featured in significant exhibitions internationally, including Fabriano Contemporanea #1 Intrecci in Italy, Seventeen at The Bomb Factory Art Foundation in London, Alma Pearl, and Numerator & Denominator at the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel.

Takt By Be Andr

This exhibition by Be Andr binds the idea of time and rhythm together as a 'Takt'. Exploring Deleuze's thoughts on rhythm as a milieu’s reaction to chaos, 'Takt', in the setting of this exhibition, mirrors the circadian time, our body rhythms, and the transition from one milieu to another – the passage of non-linear time. This progression is also an in-between, between rhythm-chaos, between the mutation of the organic and the inorganic, man and machine. Here chaos is not the opposite of time or rhythm, but rather its partner.

 

Vienna is renowned for its musical heritage, and the Austrian term 'Takt', rooted in the Latin word 'Tactus', signifies touch, sense, and feeling. Life itself pulsates with rhythm, from the rhythmic patterns of breathing to the synchronised beats of the heart, all echoing the intricate interactions of atoms. 'Takt' in this sense is not related to military precision in marching, but rather it relates, as hinted in the main piece in the exhibition space, 'SHHH', as a poignant reminder of the significance of silence and attentive listening.

 

The inclusion of two paintings depicting eyes, which are the artist’s son’s eyes, underscores the concept of repetition intertwined with individual rhythm - a child is the parents embodied rhythm. These images are not merely representations, but interpretations generated by an algorithm, offering an algorithmic perspective on our visual perception, freezing time in algorithmic rhythms, shapes and signs.

 

A sculpture, made from the two words 'in formation', is balanced on a stick to disrupt conventional notions of orientation, hinting at the fluidity of information. It challenges us to reconsider our understanding of spatial dynamics and the interconnectedness of elements. It somehow asks: What is up and what is down?

 

The interactive installation of several metronomes on a plinth invites viewers to engage directly with the rhythmic synchronisation of space and time through metronomes. By touching the metronome, participants can observe how the rhythms un-sync and then re-sync. It mirrors how nature has a tendency towards 'working together'. This piece speaks about 'Takt' as collaboration, cooperation, and mutual understanding, a process that happens through time itself.

 

Ultimately, this show advocates for a shift towards collaborative engagement and attentive listening, emphasising the interconnectedness of all elements within a system throughout the space that it names time. By embracing touch and interaction, we can unlock the rhythmic complexities of our surroundings and foster a deeper appreciation for the delicate dance of existence.