Exhibition by Zillis Stoffelsconception GmbH

Encoded information signals in the form of symbolic digits (ciphers), systematic assignments (codes), and structured numbers (cryptos) are a physical product of human communication. Visual representations have always played an important role in the transmission of knowledge.

Since time immemorial, humans have used their senses to interactively perceive and process information. Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, and the ability to orient oneself in space and time thanks to the sense of balance enable not only the reception of impressions but also the expression of meaning. Communication—that is, the exchange of units of information—thus constitutes a fundamental cultural prerequisite for every civilization.

In this context, information always combines content and form: What is being communicated? Meaning! How does something manifest itself? Appearance!
Whereas in the past, stories—mainly passed down orally and often accompanied by dance, theater, or song—conveyed informative content, today this is mostly done through animated images and modulated texts. Some messages are immediately understandable. Others require specialized knowledge to be understood. And quite a few are encrypted and decrypted cryptically for security reasons. This phenomenon in particular has increased significantly in the information age. Data is created and transmitted electronically and digitally, globally, and around the clock—technically anonymously and at breakneck speed.

In this context, two specific types of information transmission are compared:

On the one hand, the traditional, pictorial, symbolic style of expression, as strikingly evident in the medieval ceiling paintings of St. Martin’s Church in Zillis. On the other hand, an innovative example of modern information and communication technology, presented through the attractive works of the panel painting workshop Sstoffelsconception GmbH in Andeer.

The current exhibition builds a contemporary bridge between the past and the future. It demonstrates that people have always sought conceptual ways to organize, preserve, and pass on knowledge across generations.