Showroom or exhibition in the installation process? Hybrid form. As well as with the plants and animals, even within art the interbreeding occurs. Indications of contemporary aesthetics are live plants, DIY objects, royal blue and perfectly technically elaborated video-documentaries or presentations of fictiotius events and products. All from a perspective of refined and exactly arranged aesthetics, but appearing randomly. Given situation encourages a dialogue and stimulates thoughts about ways, how to approach the live plants not only as decorations, but also as living organisms. Thirsty flowers arouse pity and thoughts on the reasons, why they are in bad condition. It´s been proved, that if you talk with your flower in a nice manner, it is more fulfilled and grows better. Even the plants, which are in bad condition, may by such care get over it. Care in the Rucola project resolves around conceptualism, activism, graphic and product design and DIY art with the ambition to create a platform for the development and presentation of new product prototype – smart watches. The watches visually attract potential users by their DIY aesthetics with cable sleeves, but their function is not only aesthetical, and they draw the attention to the need of regular maintenance care of the plants in the household. Also the choice of specific species, the arugula or rucola, is not random, the plant is essential for discussion between both artists, and regarding the increased promotion and popularity of rucola in recent years, it reflects current preferences in the gastronomy. It also opens up question, whether it is even desirable for people to get used to the fact, that there is something what draws their attention to something, in order not to forget about it.
Dana Balážová, Eva Brodská, Lucie Kralíková and Petr Švolba
The connecting element of the exhibition is the elemental life-giving element and magical symbol preserved for many ages - fire. A functional furnace and rising smoke will become the focal point of the exhibition. The shared experience of many a loud (or silent) prayer can be a connection to ancestors present, future and past in one precious time. In the gallery installation, tapestries, a moving image, and clumps of plants will come together, waiting to be burned in communal gatherings. The artists dedicate these to three themes: winning friendships, summoning rain, and divinatory and prophetic dreams.
David Mišťúrik
SHOWCASE, the completion of the REALITY trilogy, critically plays with the phenomenon of reality shows and the entertainment that is closely connected to it. In this case, the central video, which is set in an immersive setting, becomes a speculative satire on the press conference. The audience is situated in the role of fans, but at the same time finds itself under the fire of flashbacks. It is the harsh spotlights and camera flashes that are the dominant visual element of the installation. They refer to exhibitionism, but at the same time to discomfort – to the feelings that the participant of any reality show has to reckon with. Everything here will be disguised in the cloak of a small/big show that must have been extremely expensive, or at least appears so.
