‘Poetry: that can mean an Atemwende, a breathturn. Who knows perhaps poetry travels this route –
also the route of art – for the sake of such a breathturn?’ – Paul Celan, 1960
In 1965, the Goethe Institute in Paris hosted the exhibition Atemkristall (Breathcrystal),
comprising a collection of 21 poems by the Romanian-born German-language poet Paul Celan,
mirrored by eight etchings by his partner, the French graphic artist Gisèle Lestrange. The poems
were later published as the first of five cycles making up the volume Atemwende (Breathturn),
about which Celan made the above statement. As a polyglot, he felt this Breathturn to be the
precise moment at which language opens up to a multiplicity of meanings; the point at which it
breaks down and is reformulated into new words. To write without citation, not referencing the
grand narratives that have gone before, and to ‘let only your own words speak’ on their own
merits. It is the play of one language to another, adjusted by a touch of equivalence, being
transported from one idea to another through material exchange. This perpetuum mobile of
language, the visual arts and word play is brought about by a systematic interaction between
walking, memory, and current events, whereby the poem creates an equivalent experience,
which can be revisited and explored multiple times.
In 2020, the Beyond Other Horizons exhibition at the Palace of Culture, Iasi, Romania, showcased
84 artists from Romania and the UK, responding to Celan’s poetry, to celebrate 100 years since
his birth. Curated by Peter Harrap, Anna McNay and Florin Ungureanu, in partnership with the
Iasi Palace of Culture, Iasi ‘George Enescu’ National University of the Arts, and UCL SSEES, it
focused on the themes of Walking, Language and Otherness.
Works on paper exploring Walking, Language and Otherness remain the touchstone of our
Atemkristall exhibition, but with the added interplay of visual equivalence, as originally
conceived by Celan and Lestrange in their exhibition of the same name. In addition, there will be
three vitrine displays: one featuring archival material relating to Celan and Lestrange; one with
specially selected small paintings by Peter Harrap, responding to poems by Katy Holbird; and one
with a collaborative work by poet Harriet Tarlo and artist Judith Tucker, who tragically died in an
accident in November 2023.
Paul Celan was born in Czernowitz, Romania, now Ukraine, in 1920.
Gisèle Lestrange was born in Paris, France, in 1927.
Peter Harrap, artist and curator, PhD(c) Iasi, George Enescu University, Hon UCL, SSEES
Anna McNay, independent writer, editor and curator
Florin Ungureanu, artist and curator, Iasi Palace of Culture, Romania
This exhibition is supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute, the British Council Romania, the
Warburg Institute, UCL London, and National University of the Arts ‘George Enescu’ Iasi, Romania.
The exhibition will tour to the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York and Berlin.
Events on Thursday 20 March, starting at the Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave
Square, London, SW1X 8PH and continuing at the Blyth Gallery, Level 5, Sherfield Building,
Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ:
Symposium: Romanian Cultural Institute, 11.45am-3.30pm
Concert: Romanian Cultural Institute, 4.00-5.00pm
Private view: Blyth Gallery, 6.30-8.30pm
Book Tickets for the Symposium and Concert
Blyth Gallery Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.00 – 17.00 BST
Please note the Gallery will be closed for Easter from Fri 17 April and will reopen on Wed 23 April
The symposium is supported by the Warburg Institute, UCL London, and National University of
the Arts ‘George Enescu’ Iasi, Romania. Following a welcome by by Aura Woodward, Head of ICR
London, there will be seven short lectures and a panel discussion on the intersection of poetry
and art in the work of Celan and Lestrange and in the work of contemporary artists. Speakers
include Peter Harrap, Anna McNay, Florin Ungureanu, Andreea Scridon, Marius von Brasch,
Bianca Boros, Harriet Tarlo, Susie Hamilton, Barbara Howey, Alex McIntyre and Fiona Robinson.
The concert features music by the Romanian pianist Cristiana Achim and is organised in
collaboration with the Romanian Cultural Institute, London.
Atemkristall is a part of the Celan 105 programme, organised at and supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London
Artists:
Day Bowman
Judith Burrows
Simon Carter
Louise Cattrell
Susie Hamilton
Peter Harrap
Marguerite Horner
Natasha Kissell
Alex Mclntyre
Mandy Payne
Narbi Price
Simon Woolham
Sean Williams
Simon Burton
Marcelle Hanselaar
Barbara Howey
Matthew Krishanu
Katya Kvasova
Liane Lang
Enzo Marra
Suzanne Moxhay
Greg Smart
Emma Biggs
Marius von Brasch
Julian Brown
Deb Covell
Phil King
David Mabb
Sarah Needham
Tom Palin
Andrew Palmer
Ruth Philo
Freya Purdue
Shereen Rahwangi
Fiona Robinson
Mike Stoakes
Harriet Tarlo
Judith Tucker
Vicky Wright
Matei Bejenaru
Gheorghe Fikl
Iulian Fron
Virgil Parghel
Sever Petrovici-Popescu
Rodica Postolache
Diana Serghiutä
Mihail Voicu
Cristian Alexii
Marius Barb
Bianca Boros
Radu Carnariu
Valentina Drutu
Robert Koteles
Manuell Mänâstireanu
Sorin Purcaru
Liviu Suhar
Ile Steff
Ondina Oana Turturica
Cristian Ungureanu
Florin Ungureanu
Florentina Voichi
Mihai Zgondoiu
Felix Aftene
Ana-Maria Barb
Arina Bican
Mateias Bogdan
Sabina Drînceanu
Sabin Drînceanu
Gabriela Drînceanu
Kristian Evju
Liviu Epuras
Daniela Grapa
Ciprian Macovei
Ana Petrovici-Popescu
Laurian Popa
Mircea Roman
Cristian Sida
Atena-Elena Simionescu
Cosmin Paulescu
Flavia Pitis
For more information, see imperial.ac.uk/events/179280/breathcrystal/ or contact gallery@imperial.ac.uk (for
information about the gallery and the exhibition) or beyondotherhorizons@gmail.com (for information for the artists)
Image credit:
