Interface, Bratislava, Slovak republic

INTERFACE is based on the presentation of art works which consciously confront themselves with religion. The aim of the exhibition is neither to shock nor draw attention to the religious questions, but trace different approaches to this theme by artists coming from various religious environments – Islam, Jewish and Christian, as well as different local contexts (Asia, Europe, America). The main intention of the exhibition is to search possibilities of understanding among various religions. In the eyes of an ordinary man the mass media manipulation can easily turn every Muslim into an enemy, a terrorist. Similar manipulations can deform our opinions on the Jewish, Christian or other religious identity.

Works, created in the media of video, object and painting, presented at the exhibition INTERFACE raise questions about how artists from different cultures and religions express themselves in art. How does a universal language of contemporary art reflect different religious and philosophical approaches? To what extent does religion even today effect our ability to see and interpret the visual reality? Did contemporary art lose the Church as a patron that for many centuries had commissioned artists to create art works? Do religious topics and motifs, the sacred and transcendent still belong among topical issues of art? The exhibition does not have an ambition to judge nor take an apriori attitude about the theme but on the basis of the presented works it wants to provide a space for a discussion

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SARA NUYTEMANS / ARYA PANDJALU 

BIRDPRAYERS

2007

In this work the video artists captured four men with architectural symbols of world religions placed on their heads. Their faces are covered, unknown. The four men are anonymous, placed on the same, equal level. Thus none of the religions presented by architectural models on their heads is superior to the others. They co-exist in peaceful harmony. Artists coming from two differnt religious backgrounds thus expressed their own idea of religious equality and tolerance.

Exhibition Review: http://www.artmargins.com