Opening: 30. 11. 2023 at 6PM
Exhibition duration: 1. 12. 2023 – 30. 3. 2024
Guest of exhibition: Lucia Papčová
Exhibition space Q, Hlavná 27, Košice
The experience gained in the projects realised until now has focused primarily on the question of the interconnection of the physical and mental worlds of verticality (Citizens, Cardinality, Material/ Dewy/ Absolute, Where I have not been) guides the author’s attention to the search for new levels of sculptural research in the spirit of the American artist Robert Smithson – Site / Nonsite. Nonsite refers to a group of artefacts, usually acquired from an outdoor space, which are then transferred to a gallery or other indoor environment and therefore represent an outdoor site in a different form. The Site / Nonsite question has the potential to communicate an experience and truth that transcends us. The ambition of the exhibition is to amplify and articulate the inner connection between physical and spiritual space. The symbolic notion of “antigravity” is perceived as a moment of stopping, an encounter with oneself and with the unknown. In the process of creation of the work, the key role is played by natural substances, their origin, reflection and activation of their movement on various levels.
The exhibition presents a series of sculptural works, from the oldest to the most recent. These have been gradually created through physical encounters and mutual internal containment of the confronted entities or personal dialogue with natural elements, materials and selected locations. Raw materials such as stone, resin, wax, wood, clay, rock salt and water, which form the basic building blocks of the works, were activated through various animals (e.g. insects, birds, deer and others), but also gravity and natural elements directly in nature.
Štefan Papčo (1983, Ružomberok) is a graduate of Jozef Jankovič’s Sculpture and Space Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (2001 – 2007). During his studies he completed internships at the Academy of Arts in Barcelona and Porto. He has received several domestic and international awards for his work. In 2010 he became a finalist of the Oskár Čepan Award. In 2011 he won the main award at the Dumbo Arts Festival in New York, USA, which led to further artist residencies. In 2013, he was a laureate of the Tatra banka Foundation Art Award in the Young Artist category. In 2014 he received the main prize of the Novum Foundation. His work is represented in public and private collections in Slovakia and abroad. He is currently an associate professor at the Department of Sculpture, Object and Installation at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava.
Lucia Papčová (1987, Bratislava) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (2006 – 2010) and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (2009 – 2010). She received a Mgr. Art. degree at the Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien (2010 – 2013) and an ArtD. degree at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (2010 – 2013). In 2009 she became the laureate of the prestigious Essl Award CEE VIG. During her studies she completed artist residencies at AIR Krems, Austria (2012, 2013), Residency Unlimited, New York City, USA (2013), Artist in Residence, Banska St a nica Contemporary, Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia (2013). She continued her creative residencies in 2017 with the Civitella Ranieri Fellowship and in 2019 with the CEE Calling Residency at Lendhauer Klagenfurt. Lucia Papčová uses the media of photography, video and object in her work. Utilising the possibilities of technology, optics, photography post-production and found objects, she records specific situations and atmospheres in environments that are distanced from objectification in their output in order to encourage interaction from the viewer.
