All images are copyrighted and courtesy of Cucumber Mag and the photographer
Import Export (Warsaw) and Rodeo (London) present “Ruined” – a collaborative exhibition featuring works by Alice Bucknell, Zuzanna Czebatul, Mia Dudek, Veronika Hapchenko, Nona Inescu, Masha Silchenko, and a joint creation by SAGG Napoli and Stefania Batoeva.
Condo 2024
Exhibition view, Ruined, Rodeo gallery, London, 2024
Exploring the theme of ruins and resilience, this exhibition encompasses a diverse range of mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, video, and gaming. Against the backdrop of Rodeo’s historic gallery space, the artworks provoke contemplation on the human capacity to endure and overcome adversity in the face of societal challenges.
Nona Inescu, Venus traps (Dionaea muscipula), 2021, 10 metal shells with metal chain, variable dimensions
The exhibition begins with a trio of works rendered in grayscale, each addressing different forms of resilience. Veronika Hapchenko’s large-scale figurative painting depicts horses amidst the ruins of Pripyat, evoking the resilience of nature in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. Masha Silchenko’s ceramic house, though roofless and bombed out, stands as a testament to the resilience of communities amidst conflict. Zuzanna Czebatul’s shifting urban landscape explores the resilience of cities amidst rapid development and decay.
Masha Silchenko, Untitled, 2022, Ceramic, enamel, video, 21x24x31 cm
Veronika Napchenko, horses konie, 2023, acrylic and ink on canvas, 160×345 cm
Zuzanna Czebatul, Bone, Flesh & Skin, Giclée print on paper, 70×50 cm, 2022
Alice Bucknell, Chapter Fire Walk With Me from the 5-level video game The Alluvials, 2024
Contemplation of the destiny of our land and resources is deepened by the narratives unfolding in “The Alluvials,” a multi-level speculative video game by Alice Bucknell.
SAGG Napoli and Stefania Batoeva, Drama I, Oil paint, leather, Styrodur, foamed PVC, wood, steel, arrows, 61x180x93
Amidst these socio-political narratives, Mia Dudek’s leaking puddle and Nona Inescu’s Venus traps introduce elements of playfulness and sensuality, prompting reflection on emotional resilience in the face of personal upheaval. Meanwhile, a collaborative piece by SAGG Napoli and Stefania Batoeva, depicting a half-broken heart pierced by an arrow, serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience found in vulnerability and self-discovery.
Mia Dudek, Instalation in situ, 2024, silicone, pigment, dimentions variable
Through this exhibition, viewers are invited to contemplate the multifaceted nature of resilience – from the resilience of nature and communities to the resilience of the human spirit. As SAGG Napoli aptly reflects, resilience is not merely about overcoming adversity, but about finding strength, intuition, and clarity in the face of life’s challenges.
