13/02/2027 – 09/05/2027,

ton not. not ton.

, Kunsthalle Münster

Concert, performance, exhibition: ton not. not ton. is devoted to sound and everything that sound evokes, allowing it to appear in the form of acoustic interventions and objects in space—vibrating and haptic, visual and immaterial, embodied and disembodied. Following three successful editions in 2021, 2023 and 2025, the fourth edition of ton not. not ton. is scheduled for 2027. And for the first time, not only the premises of the Kunsthalle Münster and the adjoining Atelier 4.1 will serve as venues, but also the Dominican Church in the centre of Münster.

The focus of the fourth edition of ton not. not ton lies on the voice and its relationship to breathing. The exhibition revolves around the voice as perhaps the most primordial of instruments and breath as the foundation of life, along with topics examining language, speech and song as verbally embodied realities. More so than in previous editions of ton not. not ton., it is the connection between the body and sound that is emphasized here.

Breath is examined both as mode of expression of the living body and as a material capable of generating sound. ton not. not ton relates the vital physical act of breathing with fundamental questions about life. The ancient Greek word “pneuma” means “breath” and, in the ancient Greek context, is used in physiological, spiritual and philosophical respects. In Stoic philosophy, “pneuma” becomes a central cosmological principle: it denotes the breath of life which arises as a mixture of air and fire and regulates both the cosmos and earthly life. Breath also underlies the word for soul (psyche), which following certain interpretations means “life”.

Breath is also the essential basis for the voice—used to shape the most diverse aspects of life, both on the discursive and the aesthetic level. The voice represents one of our defining characteristics; we use it spontaneously most of the time, usually without giving it much thought. It springs from within us, both physically and in our minds. Though it is fleeting, it has the potential to echo in our minds after having left the body. Based on experimental uses and interpretations of the voice, ton not. not ton aims to capture and render its multifaceted nature, to reveal the emotions and meanings resonating therein.

This involves examining the resonance of oral and acoustic knowledge in comparison to academic knowledge. It is about unheard, suppressed and sometimes faltering voices; it comprises notions of vulnerability, fragility and speechlessness. It also explores vocal acts of overcoming personal or societal resistance, along with speculative linguistic outbursts and connections. Voice and breath appear in intimate and concrete forms, as metaphors and as political material. “Having a voice” is generally associated with the right to express one’s views, not only on an individual level but also within society.

Being presented alongside installations, photographs, paintings, video and audio works are various performances and concerts ranging from intimate acoustic performances to immersive audiovisual experiences. The exhibition features loud and quiet works alike. Visitors will hear stirring cries, distorted sighs, sensual songs and piercing whistles. On display are lamenting larynxes, longing lungs and vibrant voices, while silence is likewise granted its space. By combining works of visual art with the performing arts and music on an equal footing, ton not. not ton. also explores synaesthetic experiences that allow for descriptions beyond the confines of a single genre and transcend categorizations. It is about how sounds resonate in other media, about rendering voices visible, about the sculptural quality of flowing air. When the body becomes a voice and the voice becomes space, a sound space emerges that can be entered together.

Curators: Nguyen Phuong-Dan + Merle Radtke Curatorial Assistant: Heiko Lietz