Artists: Tereza Bartůňková, Veronika Homolová, Hedvika Hlaváčková, Vojtěch Hrubant, Eva Koťátková, Matouš Lipus, Eva Palčič, Klára Samcová, Dominik Styk
Title: Labyrinth: Wandering Within
Curator: Karla Dvořák Hlaváčková
Venue: GHMP, Prague
Photos: Jan Kolsky
The labyrinth functions as a metaphor for human thought and the journey of life. It symbolises wandering, courage, transformation and the burden of responsibility each individual bears for their actions and words. Step inside and reflect on what happens when fear of the unknown, of differences or of misunderstanding begins to dictate our decisions instead of reason?
The Labyrinth project explores precisely these issues. It confronts visitors with their attitudes, transforming them into critically thinking observers. The exhibition addresses key social issues. Among the central themes are fear of the unknown and uncertainty, generalisation and dehumanisation, responsibility of the individual in modern society and the power of words and their impact on human dignity.
The path out of the labyrinth does not lie in simple answers, but in the willingness to listen, to question one’s own certainties and to take responsibility for how we understand the world and other people.
The exhibition features works by several prominent figures on the contemporary Czech art scene: Vojtěch Hrubant’s relief Evolution explores the human journey through the labyrinth of one’s own decisions and the question of conformity. Veronika Homolová created the illustration Map of Fear for the exhibition, which confronts visitors with their fears and phobias. The Spring is an installation by Tereza Bartůňková who works with darkness, mirrors and the viewer’s encounter with themselves. Dominik Styk’s works Growth Protocol and Naked Roots reflect on the influence of the environment on human development and the threats of dehumanisation. In her Machine for Restoring Empathy, Eva Koťátková created a space of care, inclusion and mutual support. Eva Palčič’s object Recollection of a Procession addresses issues of communication, tradition and interpersonal connections in a secularised society. Matouš Lipus is the creator of the sculpture Atlas which symbolises the burden of responsibility and the weight of human decisions. Klára Samcová will present textile works addressing menstruation, gender roles and societal expectations associated with the female experience. The exhibition concludes with a video by Hedvika Hlaváčková, who reflects on the absurdity of stubbornly clinging to gender stereotypes and, through various perspectives, challenges the rigid categories of masculinity and femininity.