What happens when two galaxies collide without any encounter?

The exhibition season of Kunsthalle LAB in Bratislava will be concluded with a solo show of Pavla Sceranková (*1980), a Slovak sculptor and current finalists of the Jindřich Chalupecký Award. The opening of the exhibition entitled Collision of Galaxies is to be held on Thursday, 17 December 2015, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibition lasts until 14 February 2015.

The exhibition Collision of Galaxies examines the recent work of Pavla Sceranková (*1980). The graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague presents two seemingly related works as two metaphors of the universe. The interactive kinetic installation Collision of Galaxies (2014) embodies the motion of galaxies in cosmic space, drawing a fragile analogy of human relationships. The object and the video Veritas (2014) reveal the universe of seeing and perceiving within the space of one's mind. The exhibition reflects current tendencies in Sceranková's work, focusing on the extended scope of her sculpture with cosmic space.

 

Medium-wise, Pavla Sceranková is not a traditional sculptor. She often utilizes found objects, fragile materials, customized vintage furniture, or kitchen utilities, focusing on the aspect of motion. However, the central proposition of the author and her work is the analogy of a human being, its vision, perception, and emotions. According to Sceranková, these are the constants that shape the world. The major structure of her works now features mechanized or animated frames of different things, revealing their inner structure, processuality, and fragility of human perception.

 

The exhibition presents Sceranková's interest in the mysterious world of the human mind and its perception processes. The seemingly abstract geometric metal figure (Veritas) is apparently constructed from a number of different angles and points of perspective. The incredibly fragile and optically disembodied form refers to the creation of an image in one's mind.

 

On the other hand, Sceranková explores the cosmic space in cooperation with astrophysicist Bruno Jungwiert, who is engaged in researching cosmic phenomena and galaxy encounters. The interactive kinetic installation (Collision of Galaxies) is a model of the motion of galaxies in the cosmic space. Based upon the astrophysical thesis that the collision of galaxies occurs once in a very long time without any physical encounter, the motion is embodied by household porcelain secured to two long arms.

 

The two previously not exhibited works visualize the premise that the way we see the world primarily exists the way we perceive it and think about it. The two formally related works serve as two different metaphors of space; one as a system of seeing and perceiving in one's mind, the other as a system of relations around us and beyond.

 

COLLISON OF GALAXIES

Artist: Pavla Sceranková

Curator: Nina Vrbanová

Opening: 17 December 2015 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Exhibition duration: 18 December 2015 – 14 February 2016

Venue: Kunsthalle LAB