In the Light of Shadows at the Petrus Church: Dance of Death as a Contemporary Installation


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In the Light of Shadows: A Dance of Death Made from Fragile Materials
The exhibition In the Light of Shadows at the Petrus Church Neu-Ulm is dedicated to the classic idea of the Dance of Death. Marlis Schabacker-Bock translates the medieval motif into a contemporary installation made of polystyrene, forming an intense meditation on transience, lifespan, and conscious presence.
A Diffuse Shape Between Light and Shadow
At the center of the work group Fragments of a Dance of Death stands death as a cloud-like, diffuse figure. Not as a dramatic character, but as a hovering presence, it appears over everything: silent, withdrawn, and at the same time inevitable. The reduced language of form opens a space for concentrated contemplation of the work and an aesthetic experience beyond immediate effects.
Polystyrene as an Artistic Statement
By choosing polystyrene, the artist selects a light, fragile, and familiar material from everyday life. This material choice gives the installation its particular tension. The fragile surface points to the vulnerability of human life, while the floating effect of the works creates a peculiar lightness. In the exhibition atmosphere of the Petrus Church, material, space, and light come together for a silent art experience.
The Dance of Death as a Contemporary Art Direction
The Dance of Death is one of the most impressive image motifs in European art history. Historically, it recalls the equality of all people in the face of death. Marlis Schabacker-Bock picks up this cultural context and translates it into a contemporary installation. Her works do not merely formulate a reminder, but an invitation to understand finitude as an impulse for a more conscious, intense, and meaningful life.
Art in Sacred Space
The Petrus Church gives the exhibition a special spatial effect. Between architecture, silence, and natural light, the works develop a contemplative presence. The church space becomes a place of cultural education, where art historical reflection and personal perception connect. Visitors experience an exhibition that focuses less on spectacular staging and more on attention, closeness, and inner resonance.
Conclusion: An Exhibition about the Preciousness of Life
In the Light of Shadows opens a quiet, powerful encounter with the theme of transience. The fragile installation by Marlis Schabacker-Bock unites Dance of Death tradition, contemporary material art, and spiritual spatial effect. Those who want to experience art as contemplation, a stimulus for thought, and a personal aesthetic experience will find in the Petrus Church a compelling reason to visit.
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