Czech Centre in Vienna / March 27 – May 16, 2012
Soho in Ottakring / May 12 – May 16, 2012
The 5th exhibition of the “art meets the (c.i.t.y.) streets” series taking place at the Czech Centre in Vienna runs concurrently with SOHO in Ottakring festival. The two exhibitions (at the Czech Centre gallery and at the festival) are focusing on the situation of the current unstable world shown through the perspective of three Czech contemporary artists. In their work the artists examine the specific social phenomenon – Robert Šalanda is focusing on the peculiar form of Czech heroism; Petra Valentová´s neon cow is referencing to the complicated story of the Indian contemporary society; Jan Kaláb explores the relationship between the micro (human) and macro (cosmic) world.
The exhibition’s title post-h€aven has many (various) meanings. It refers to the common sense of safety, shared Euro-Atlantic belief that nothing “bad” can happen to our society. Western culture is a paradise of individual choice and each of us is aware of its values. Value has its numerical equivalent, coefficient of (individual) freedom. The “safe” Western Haven conceals within itself refugees, the witnesses of the outside world. They bring chaos to the temple of comfort, chaos of values, a disruption to the order. Border-lines are changing again and the movement of masses channels to the movement of mind. Our heaven of commodities acquires new name, a preposition -post like everything that is difficult to name or categorize.
Petra Valentová, Cows, 2011, neon, 75 x 105cm
Jan Kaláb’s ‘macrocosm’ could be easily translated as a “microcosm” of individual worlds. As something, that is overlapping the comprehensible framework of what is already uncovered and precisely explained. Kaláb captures the simplicity of substitution, not only of stereo metric bodies, but of the whole meaning.
www.jankalab.com, www.onepoint.cz
Jan Kaláb, Invalid Happiness Formula, 2011, acrylic, spray paint on canvas, 160 x 200 cm
Robert Šalanda works in opposite direction. Using vocabulary of the sports commentators, describing heroic moments of sport performances and reassigning their meaning Šalanda creates a self existing, distinctive world. Heroism is “left” to the sport field and is often described in the ‘incredible’ way.
Robert Šalanda,
Robert Šalanda, “Hírouz” / Heroes, 2010, acrylic, paper, 60×80 cm
Petra Valentová´s cows are simple but strong testimony to what is well known and visible but we are powerless to change it. With gentle humour, she presents the Indian society in contrast to the habitual values of the Euro-American tradition questioning whether there is any tradition left.
Petra Valentová, Cows, 2011, porcelain, 75 x 105cm
These three artists with different approach commenting on social or human situation, whether thru a statement, question or irony, intersect in the middle. The common man story can be discovered in the siege of social stereotypes, non-functional relationships and unanswered desires within never ending chaos.
The inside exhibition is organized in co-operation with the Czech Center Vienna. The outside exhibition on Yppenpaltz is realized in co-operation with the Soho in Ottakring festival.
The exhibition curator: Klára Voskovcová
www.bonartos.cz; www.sohoinottakring.at; www.tschechischeszentrum.at
The general partner of Czech centers is Staropramen a.s.
Contacts:
BonArt, o.s., Wolkerova 1, 160 00 Praha 6
Klára Voskovcová (klara@bonartos.cz) +420.603.112.036 / info@bonartos.cz
Czech center Vienna, Herrengasse 17, 1010 Wien
Verein SOHO IN OTTAKRING,Brunnengasse 68/9, 1160 Wien, ZVR 043535030
Ula Schneider (contact@sohoinottakring.at)
t: +43 (0)699 195 33 594
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