I Sought My Soul
Presented by Tyger Tyger
April 15 - May 4, 2025
St. Elisabeth Kirche | Invalidenstrasse 3, 10115, Berlin

Taking its title from William Blake, I Sought My Soul, considers a contemporary romanticism, a new sublime in the world. Due to impending threats from war, climate change, disease, new technologies, identity politics, and unregulated markets, the 2020s thus far has been an era of political, economic, and social turmoil. In a world increasingly shaped by new technologies and Artificial Intelligence, the question of identity and the self is fundamentally being redefined. This resulted into a longing for otherworldly and collective guidance. Mysticism, spirituality, new religions, and the feminine divine have become societally accepted means of answering increasingly prescient existential questions. 

I Sought My Soul explores the phenomenon of new autonomy within a utopian vision of unity. Drawing inspiration from a Blakean quote, the exhibition at the church St. Elisabeth in Berlin centres on commonality and mutual assistance, which lie at the heart of soulful creation. With an optimistic view towards the future the exhibition highlights a sense of fluidity amongst humanity, technology, artistic genres and personal orientations. In challenging existing oppressive structures, the show emphasizes an open emotional framework.

As an example, Anne Imhof’s delicate drawings convey a palpable emotional distance, embodying a profound existential longing—for connection, freedom, and release from societal constraints. Furthermore, the works within the exhibition engage with the future in a progressive and transformative manner. Here, Lu Yang’s self-transforming avatar traverses various reincarnation stages within a utopia constructed by Artificial Intelligence, redefining spirituality in the context of AI. Rather than adhering to rigid dogmas of politics and religion, the artists in I Sought My Soul create new, personal worlds, guided by open forms of belief and fluid ways of life. This is exemplified in the work of Jacolby Satterwhite, whose videos challenges traditional boundaries of identity and expression.

Simultaneously, the exhibition delves into themes of nature and the divine feminine principle, where a softness of form pervades. Just to name a few, Ketuta Alexi-Meskhishvili’s work, influenced by her Georgian heritage and experiences of motherhood, conveys subtle emotional depth through prints and large, flowing drapes. In contrast, Serbian artist Ivana Bašić’s timeless sculptures explore the fragility and transformation of the physical form, creating a unique interplay between the otherworldly and the mortal. 

The venue for this exhibition is St. Elisabeth Kirche in Berlin Mitte - a historic and monumental landmark that fosters artistic exploration and dialogue between culture and spirituality. The church was largely destroyed during World War II and remained a ruin until the mid-nineties, with a forest growing within its walls. What remains of that period is a breath-taking skylight, allowing natural light to pour into the space and further enrich the atmosphere of the exhibition. Its expansive hall provides an open setting for multimedia works by some of the most significant contemporary artists of today. 

This exhibition is made possible with support from Kultur Büro Elisabeth.