28.01.2026 – 03.03.2026
Will-o’-the-wisp refers to a gently flickering light that appears in swamps or wetlands and has historically been interpreted as an illusion, omen or miracle. The phenomenon is commonly explained by the escape of swamp gases such as methane or phosphine, which only occur under very specific conditions. Although science has replaced many mythical interpretations, the sense of uncertainty and fascination with the unknown remain. Swamps embody this tension. Often portrayed as hostile or uninhabitable, they are home to a complex and thriving life that often only comes to light at night. Within the exhibition curated by Julia Harrauer, the will-o’-the-wisp becomes a metaphor for this hidden vitality and refers to fleeting ecosystems that are often overlooked. Nature and the environment become a central symbolic field: they are perceived both as a powerful force that resists control and as something vulnerable that needs protection or defence.
Artists: Julia Åberg, Maria Belova, Ester Gašparová, Maks Rz, Anna Taganzeva, Julia Woronowicz, Lorenzo Zerbini
WILL-O’-THE-WISP
28.01.2026 – 03.03.2026
AG18 Gallery
Annagasse 18, 1010 Vienna
https://ag18gallery.com
