Boris Sirka
FLUORESCENT MINERALS
Exhibition opening: 15. 2. 2017 / 19.00 hod. Exhibition's duration: 16. 2. - 17. 3. 2017 Exhibition's curator: Michal Stolárik
In Boris Sirka’s new artistic direction, there is a clear significant shift from predominantly figural narrative painting to an almost abstract series, in which he focuses on the depiction of minerals in unidentifiable environments. The author’s intention is to examine the ratio of the importance of man to our planet as a geological whole. However, his goal is not to find a solution to a geological problem, we can perceive it more as a kind of psychological “dive” into the relationship between minerals as a source of life and its user. A more lasting contrast to the human being with crystal fragility. The series of the latest large canvases was preceded by a painting project in the form of which Sirka narrated “trippy” experiences from the Norberg festival and its adjacent forests. He adopted a new colour scheme with dominant flashy colours. They were also implemented in Sirka’s minerals and rocks, which create a magical almost supernatural impression. Symbolism, cult and mysticism, together with the linearity of the painting gesture, persisted in Sirka’s work, only the theme and formal expression changed.
// Michal Stolárik, critic and curator of contemporary art
Boris Sirka (1981) is one of the best recognizable authors in Slovak young painting. In 2006 he completed his master’s degree at the Faculty of Arts of the Technical University in Košice with prof. Rudolf Sikora, currently works as a doctoral student in the Studio of Graphics and Experimental Creation with prof. Peter Rónai. A characteristic feature of his work is the chosen genre, the possibilities of which he constantly discovers and moves to new levels. He repeatedly processes “dark” themes inspired by literary or film models, or (urban) legends of different cultures. Like other painters, he works in limited, closed cycles. Changes to Sirk’s program always mean a strict transition from one phase to another, a sudden change in expression, new ideas and a thematic area.
A wide range of influences from black metal, cyberpunk, Japanese horror, comics and neo-Gothic through baroque still lifes and Slavic mythology to the narrative of various genres of porn is also reflected in his sound work, most notably in the projects BIOS, БРАДА and Æ.
The opening of the exhibition will feature an audiovisual project BIOS, which has been operating since 2010 (together with graphic designer Jozef Tušan). In terms of genre, they move somewhere in the waters of drone, noise, ambient, minimal industrial and BM. The peculiarity is their non-repetition of performances, as sound compositions are created directly during the performance. They have just released an album of the same name called Fluorescent Minerals under the Exitab label, and this feat is nominated for the 9th Radio_Head Awards in the Experimental Music genre for Record of the Year.
Exhibition of this gallery is supported by Slovak Arts Council.
Slovak Arts Council is the main partner of the project.
