‘Treacherous Path’ followed by a group of artists

Nature Morte presents a group show, entitled ‘Treacherous Path’, at its Berlin premises. The exhibit featuring a new site-specific project by Julia Staszak as well as installations by Radhika Khimji and Raqs Media Collective. Drawing its name from Julia Staszak's central work, it opts to focus on the various artistic methods of collage, layering and appropriation.

The core of an installation work by Julia Staszak is a structure that is derived from the facades of religious sites in South India. Looking to blur the fine lines between conceptual art, décor, collage, painting, and curating, the trained painter often deftly integrates her own painted works, other artists' paintings and curious found objects into unfamiliar and original configurations.

Her appropriations destabilize set hierarchies in the world of art and beyond. The artist's penchant for toying with the idea of political correctness gets particularly poignant since it complicates the cultural expectations comprised in such an invitation. Two other recent works that tread a similar path are also be showcased.

The Raqs Media Collective is an art initiative by Jeebesh Bagchi, Shuddhabratta Sengupta and Monica Narula. Informing about their sculptural work ‘The Reserve Army’, an accompanying note states that it appropriates the Modernist sculptures by Ram Kinker Baij to stand in front of the RBI's headquarters in Delhi. The press releases adds:

“The sculptor appropriated Yaksha and Yakshi, two mythological Indian figures, to grant legitimacy to the newly independent nation, while Raqs' re-presentation of these figures speaks of India's convoluted entry into the world of advanced, multi-national capital. With the addition of accessories for the figures, a digitized, futuristic backdrop and dramatic lighting, Raqs employs a theatrical mise-en-scene to manipulate meaning, similar to Julia Staszak’s program.”

The other artist whose works are on view, namely Radhika Khimji synthesizes painting, sculpture, and collage to create installations, which reflect upon the presentation and display of artworks, even while touching upon the hybridized identity of the artist.