On the occasion of Art Island 2024, Lumen Travo presents a selection of works which draw inspiration from dreams and the subconscious,
nature, animals, and the symbolic significance of everyday objects.
Ranging from abstract to figurative, encompassing drawings, paintings, collages, and prints, this exhibition presents a rich
exploration of the multifaceted world of two-dimensional art.
Atousa Bandeh (Iran, 1968) presents a new series of self portraits which offers an introspective exploration of the artist's journey through time. Each piece captures moments from the past and present, reflecting the artist's inner and outer worlds.
These images, born from personal observation, reveal the beauty and complexity of existence. Together, they form a captivating mosaic of human experience, inviting contemplation and self-discovery.
Phil Bloom’s (NL, 1945) surrealist drawings draw inspiration from the treasure trove of her (day)dreams and from the mythical figures and artistic traditions of other cultures she encountered on her travels to America, India, Japan, Russia, and Lapland.
They evoke a magical world in which women are surrounded by symbolic animals such as Disney's iconic cartoon characters, the elephant god Ganesh from India. With a humorous touch, Phil Bloom engages also with contemporary issues such as war violence, the bio-industry, societal robotization, and the decline of biodiversity, spotlighting the pivotal role of insects. Every work is accompanied by a short story, written in the moment that follows the awakening and precedes the drawing itself.
The new series of works by Dianne Hagen (NL, 1964) delves into the concept of space and place and the exchange or contradictions between the two. Abstract and figurative are blurred through means of perspective, hidden and unfolding, through diligent painterly labour versus abstract form. The sum of partly recognizable elements plays with emotions of longing, desire, judgment, power, love and condemnation. The intent behind these works is to disrupt, to assume, to feel, to imagine and to create alchemy.
The captivating works on paper by Jens Pfeifer (NL, 1963) were created in 2012 yet they resonate powerfully even today. Entitled "Don't Shed a Tear for a Fallen Chandelier," this series was inspired by the tumultuous era of the Iraq war. Surprisingly pertinent to the contemporary global landscape, these pieces delve into the enduring themes of wealth and its ostentatious display.
Through the imagery of light, weightlessness, and the symbolic motif of chandeliers, these works offer a rich reflection on the fragility of affluence and the stark contrast it presents against the backdrop of conflict and uncertainty.