Stephan Huber: World Atlas

Since the 1990s, Munich sculptor Stephan Huber has been creating very personal large-format maps that take beholders on fascinating journeys to the most diverse realms of science and human experience. Huber does this by creating collages using existing maps he combines with maps of his own making that include personal experiences as well as philosophical, historical and political references. Radically subjective surveying criteria question a purportedly incorruptible and exact system of order. The decidedly sensual selection of the maps and their aesthetic development open our eyes to the beauty of a traditional medium that conveys knowledge.

This ERES Foundation exhibition brings together - for the very first time - selected works from all phases of Huber’s life. In addition, Stephan Huber will present four true-to-scale models of his “favorite mountains”. In neutral white, these sculptures reproduce the archaic natural form of the mountains while clarifying, embellishing and overstating them, and by doing so, transforming them into works of art.

The supporting scientific program of the ERES Foundation will look into contemporary trends in cartography. This scientific discipline is currently undergoing substantial changes brought about by digitalization, big data and the internet. Electronic navigation systems are replacing printed maps and are increasingly becoming interactive, multimedia-based and spatially modeled. Smart phones make them available everywhere and they fit the needs of users wherever they may be. To what extent are these technical tools changing our sense of orientation, our day-to-day lives and our worldview?