Contemporary Models of Realism

The term 'realism' appeared in the second half of the 19th century. However, the phenomenon of realistic representation applies to all eras in the history of art. In popular perception, a faithful representation of reality is regarded as 'good art'. However, artists are not concerned with this. They use the dialogue with real images to build their own ideas on their 'flesh'.

People perceive the world very similarly – it addresses everyone in the same language. Our ability to respond to this message determines our survival and understanding with others. This is why the language in which reality speaks to us is so sensitive to misrepresentation. Every change in colour, size and distance becomes strategically important and can be life-defining. Artists exploit the sensitivity of the real image and create their own languages on this basis. They soften or brutalise it, mix or deform figures, introduce touches of the absurd, exaggerate and manipulate expressions, make colours unreal... In this way, they speak in realistic language about things that have little to do with the real image. They show in their works the general sense of life, times and politics and the accompanying moods, dreams and perversions.

Modern art has further expanded the linguistic possibilities of realistic representation. The 20th century was a good teacher. It reworked cubism, abstraction and geometry, and introduced collage, video and computer techniques. The contemporary artist is able to extract surprising reflections from real images – on any subject. This exhibition presents works that speak in the language of realism about everything that is currently important.

Artists: AES+F, Reza Aramesh, Alpin Arda Bağcık, Alicia Framis, Maya Gold, Debora Hirsch, Suzanne Husky, Krištof Kintera, Muntean/Rosenblum, Hans Op de Beeck, Julian Opie, Yigal Ozeri, Štefan Papčo, Deborah Sengl, Daniel Spoerri, Toni R. Toivonen