ELEKTROSALON
13. 10. 2023 - 11. 11. 2023
In the depths of the cave, where the first humans once discovered the fire-lit darkness, a desire for connection, for ritual, for art, for self-expression, for freedom was born. Drums rumbled, fires danced on painted walls, and minds were bent by natural substances. This archetypal moment of indulging in collective ecstasy has now been reborn in the form of the modern rave. A space that gives us an almost therapeutic opportunity to disconnect not only from the problems of the outside world, but also from our own personalities and be at one with others, shrouded in smoke and undulating in an almost sacred rumble. The light installations of today's rave parties are heirs to those ancient fires, and DJs along with light makers are then our contemporary shamans and druids, priests who guide us through a night of electronic beats - drums for our age.
The group exhibition ELEKTROSALON, subtitled From the Rave to the Gallery, presents artists who have evolved in this fascinating environment. They started as visual makers or lighting designers in the rave and club scene, where they had the opportunity to experiment, make mistakes and grow. Growing into original personalities with not only a specific character, but also their own visual signature. These artists, who mostly know each other and have worked together before, form a specific scene of light designers. Together they define an artistic direction in which they are both inspiration and rivals.
A rave is more than just a dance party; it is a gesamtkunstwerk, a complete work of art where space, sound and visuals come together. And it is the visual artists who largely define the party atmosphere with their light installations. They build modern altars around which a group ritual takes place. A ritual that dissolves the ego with an emphasis on the aforementioned and important shared experience of energy.
In the gallery space, these visual artists meet for the first time outside of a club setting. Some of them present their current ideas and work, while others look back and update their previously realized projects. The title of the exhibition, ELEKTROSALON, refers to the format of salon exhibitions popular at the turn of the last century, and offers viewers the opportunity to look for commonalities and connections between the artists.
Text: Marek Šilpoch, Martin Jakub & Petr Hájek & Martin Jakub
The exhibition will feature:
Jakub Nepraš
Světlonoš
blok_4
Tereza Bartůňková
Petr Cuker
Jan Hladil
Marek Šilpoch
Jan Slanina
Lukáš Dřevjaný
Tomáš Vavříček
Aeore
Jan Poš
GoJo
oxoo
XYZ project
Kryštof Hlůže