Delta

The video work ‘Delta’ by Clemens Wittkowski combines the feeling of strong attachment with that of a divisive, vulnerable otherness. The setting appears ambivalent: we find ourselves in a cold, musty basement room. On the one hand, it seems like a haven, empty and swept clean; on the other, it is reminiscent of a heavy concrete dungeon. The outside world seems distant, invisible, and inaudible. A white porcelain heart hanging on the front wall is unsettling. This sterile, shiny, and physical object does not impose itself, but it refers to something pulsating that seeks its counterpart within us and outside this room. We hear the gentle song of a chirping robin, as if another plane of reality exists that we can only guess at. Suddenly and unexpectedly, several indefinable forces cause the heart to fall to the floor and shatter. At the same time, the pane of glass through which we were looking, without noticing it before, slowly threatens to burst apart due to ever-growing cracks. The cawing of a raven takes over the beat. And when two sirens wail in duet and a bright warning light flashes in the basement room, the scene changes again. ‘Delta’ is filled with various metaphors that are artistically intertwined: In military command, ‘Delta’ refers to the highest of four warning levels (‘Alpha’, ‘Bravo’, ‘Charlie’, ‘Delta’), where a threat is imminent or has already occurred. In science, ‘Delta’ analysis is a sophisticated method for systematically examining actual and target states in processes, identifying weaknesses or errors, and remedying their causes as quickly as possible. For centuries, the robin has been regarded as a symbol of good fortune. It reminds us to listen to the voice of our own hearts. Where it nests, peace and mercy spread. In the mythology of various cultures, the raven is primarily associated with transience and the concept of injustice. Alchemical representations equate it with the phase of blackening (“Nigredo“) – the first step in spiritual transformation, in which old ways of thinking and outdated behaviours are dissolved to make room for the new. Grace and poise can offer comfort and guidance to people in times of irreversible upheaval, reminding us that change and adaptation are natural and necessary for us to realign ourselves. It is about healing what has been broken. This is often extremely difficult. It is easier to interact with one another when our hearts beat in unison.

Video, 02:22 min., by Clemens Wittkowski, with I AM JOHANNES, Thomas Glässer, Mirko Michalzik, Sebastian Morsch, Claus Friede*Contemporary Arts, 2025.