Abstract
Curated by Lenka Sýkorová (Czech Republic)
Artists: Jana Bernartová (Czech Republic), Jorin Bossen (US), Petr Dub (Czech Republic), Roni Feldman (US), Brian Thomas Jones (US), Jiří Kovanda (Czech Republic) Karolina Lizurej (Poland), Darja Lukjanenko (Ukraine), Jan Pfeiffer (Czech Republic) and Hanna Råst (Finland)
Durden and Ray is proud to present Searching for lost worlds, an exhibition by Altan Klamovka, an artist collective based in Prague, Czech Republic. The present can be defined as an uncertain, rapidly changing reality. We move through it while comprehending both physical and virtual worlds. We live in a time when the image is once again becoming the most readable carrier of information across cultures and continents. And our parallel digital identity brings a whole host of challenges with how we present ourselves and others. The present brings into the field of interest the aesthetics of dystopia, myths, and the search for lost worlds.
Using various techniques and materials: the exhibited artists reflect the uncertainty of the present and a certain search for lost worlds, where every shadow can be understood in the context of Plato's ideas as a reflection of the absolute truth of reality. The societal challenges in recent years have taught us to pay greater attention to everyday events, using mindfulness to fully perceive the here and now. As an intimate gesture, drawing is perceived by many artists as the most direct medium for expressing experiences with a sensitivity to small details. Drawing provides space where one can slow down. One can think through drawing. A sketch of an idea has accompanied artists since time immemorial. By combining the mind, eye and hand, an artist can capture the world around us. The combination of focus, interpretation and drawing was the basis for this curatorial project: Searching for lost worlds.