Trigger

Trigger was born as a reaction to the current times, to the situation where we are forced to witness the chaos and elevated tensions of political crises. The overwhelming flood of news in the globally shared information sphere has led us to an emotional exhaustion that enforces some to act while causing others to shut down and withdraw. The incomprehensible processes keep the frustration on a slow burn, constantly simmering under one’s skin. In addition to therapy and self-care, one might feel the need for a release of adrenaline and a bodily shake-off of this accumulated tension. In a context where the narrative of a holistic and functional worldview is already broken, the exhibition does not nurture hope for healing. Instead, it seeks a charge that allows emotional ventilation through metaphorical and poetical means. Emotional engagement does not simply provide a way to escape reality; shared cultural experiences also support our social cohesion and openness. In this way, Trigger celebrates the transformative power of art to heighten and refine our sensibility. Trigger is the first collaborative project of EKKM’s curators Evelyn Raudsepp and Maria Helen Känd. Rooted in the tension between affect and aesthetics, the curators sought ways of expression that, similarly to music, dance or performing arts, would balance intellectual engagement with sensory and physical stimulation. The exhibition is marked by a pulsating industrial rhythm, a longing for the tactility of vigorous materials, the energy of choreographic self-expression, and piercing visual stimulation. The curators have included video and sound works, site-specific installations, paintings and kinetic sculptures into a dramaturgy that unfolds on the three floors of the museum. The bodily experience is further enhanced by objects that break with the tradition of fashion and jewelry design, as well as performances that take place throughout the duration of the exhibition. Trigger invites to engage with the raw, intense and transformative.