CTRL ALT DELIRIUM
Solo exhibition and book presentation by Dadara
The opening of Ctrl Alt Delirium will take place on Saturday, January 27th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
During the opening, we will be presenting Dadara's latest book, 'Here for the Art.' The first copy will be handed over to Merlijn Twaalfhoven around 6:00 PM, who wrote the essay 'To drown, surf, or dive in waves of reality.' In addition, Dadara will give an introduction to his latest work and sign copies of the book.
>> Forward-thinker, researcher, creator - A brief overview
Dadara observes, looks forward, investigates, reflects, and creates. In 2008, he built 'Checkpoint Dreamyourtopia' at Burning Man USA, a massive border checkpoint guarding the border between 'dreams and reality.' 'Immigrants' - the visitors - had to make considerable efforts to visit the installation. In 2013, he was the 'prophet' of 'Like 4 Real,' a fifteen-meter-high installation of a 'like' icon. The Like4Real movement aimed to bring human interaction and reflection back to where they belong, from the virtual world to real reality. It served as a warning about the influence of Facebook and social media.
In 2014, the 'Exchanghibition Bank' was the focal point. Dadara followed his motto, 'The art of turning art into money and money into art,' and explored the value of money in relation to social, moral, and ethical values. These installations, conceived over a decade ago, now shed light on highly relevant themes in 2024, such as immigration, borders, social media, and the monetary system.
>> Current exhibition - The concept of 'reality'
Dadara has always been intrigued by the concept of 'reality.' In recent years, his focus has shifted towards exploring digital and physical realities. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the boundaries between the digital and the real world are rapidly blurring. Everything we see appears real, but whether it actually happened is sometimes unclear. Are we really looking critically? People have opinions, are for or against, but who takes the trouble to look further? Sometimes, what is created by the computer seems original, and what is handmade seems made by the computer.
"My two favorite media are acrylic paint and mindfuck." - Dadara
>> Ctrl Alt Delirium
Dadara plays with the realities of originality, digital, and craftsmanship in his works for the Ctrl Alt Delirium exhibition. If you look closely, you'll see pixelated elements in the paintings, generated by the computer, alongside elements from his subconscious. These are brought together on the physical canvas. But no matter how pixelated some parts may appear, everything is painted with a steady hand, creating a symbiosis between seemingly incompatible worlds.
>> Presentation of the new book 'Here for the Art'
In addition to a dozen new works, we present Dadara's latest book, 'Here for the Art.' Hans Bos of KochxBos Publishers, in collaboration with Dadara, selected the best works and innovative ideas conceived and created between 2018 and 2024. Merlijn Twaalfhoven - composer, author, and founder of The Turn Club - has written an inspiring essay to tie it all together.
'Here for the Art' captures the essence of Dadara's art. You'll find collaborations with renowned artists such as Henk Schiffmacher, Bas Kosters, Jim Avignon, Ivana Flores, Laser3.14, The London Police, and Daan Botlek. Explore his perspectives on the rise of artificial intelligence, the exploration of the world of NFTs, and the Loading Love Temple at the Boom Festival. There is a section dedicated to guerrilla projects carried out during the Covid-19 period, with the highlight being the acquisition of the work 'The artist is not present' by the Amsterdam Museum. Furthermore, you'll find an abundance of paintings and drawings with a sharp and critical perspective.
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>> Pre-Order 'Here for the Art' until January 26, 2024
€40,- After January 26, the book will cost €45,-
ISBN 978-90-833963-0-9
Order: www.dadarabook.com
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Excerpt from 'To drown, surf, or dive in waves of reality' by Merlijn Twaalfhoven in 'Here for the Art'
"...
It is up to us to find a brake, to slow down, to zoom out.
To ask ourselves: what truly has value, what actually matters?
It's up to us, we live now, we are here, so we shape this world ourselves.
Dadara takes us on a journey along our collective obsessions.
...
He makes visible systems that prefer to remain hidden.
Unmasks forces that nest under our skin.
Shows how our essence is controlled, nourished by the interests of extraction and consumerism.
That's why we let our thinking and viewing patterns be disrupted that define our expectations, distractions, and indifference.
We focus on the source of possibilities.
..."
Merlijn Twaalfhoven
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