Opening Stone of Light. Crystal Visions in Art

Crystal is precious. It has a regular structure and symbolizes spirituality in matter. For this reason it has inspired artists since romanticism. The Gothic cathedral, the architecture of light, is seen as a symbol of renewal by C.D. Friedrich. Modern architects such as Bruno Taut again took up this notion, and artists such as Lyonel Feininger, Adolf Hölzel and Paul Klee made their paintings resemble crystalline structures. Joseph Beuys saw crystal as symbolizing the cold pole of analytical thought, whereas Meret Oppenheim rediscovered its magical qualities. The exhibition focuses on art from romanticism to the present through a crystal lens.