15 Dec 2015

Kunsthalle Bratislava: Pavla Scerankova - Collision of Galaxies (Kunsthalle LAB)

Medium-wise, Pavla Scerankova (*1980) is not a traditional sculptor. She often utilizes found objects, fragile materials, customized vintage furniture, or kitchen utilities, focusing on the aspect of motion. However, the central proposition of the author and her work is the space as the analogy of a human being, its vision, perception, and emotions. According to Scerankova, these are the constants that shape the world. The major structure of her works now features mechanized or animated frames of different things, revealing their inner structure, processuality, and fragility of human perception.

The exhibition presents Scerankova's interest in the mysterious world of the human mind and its perception processes. The seemingly abstract geometric metal figure (Veritas) is apparently constructed from a number of different angles and points of perspective. The incredibly fragile and optically disembodied form refers to the creation of an image in one's mind. On the other hand, Scerankova explores the cosmic space in cooperation with astrophysicist Bruno Jungwiert, who is engaged in researching cosmic phenomena and galaxy encounters. The interactive kinetic installation (Collision of Galaxies) is a model of the motion of galaxies in the cosmic space. Based upon the astrophysical thesis that the collision of galaxies occurs once in a very long time without any physical encounter, the motion is embodied by household porcelain secured to two long arms.

The two previously not exhibited works in Slovakia visualize the premise that the way we see the world primarily exists the way we perceive it and think about it. The two formally related works serve as two different metaphors of space; one as a system of seeing and perceiving in one's mind, the other as a system of relations around us and beyond.