Upcoming
09/10/20 - 04/11/20
Setsuna
Ayumi Adachi
In Buddhism, the Sanskrit word ‘ksana’ represents a tiny unit of time eluding our conscious awareness while within it, a lot happens. In each ksana of approximately 0.013 seconds, the ‘born, live, die’ cycle loops in human consciousness.
Setsuna 刹那 (Japanese for ‘ksana’) is an installation using repurposed material and experience from previous projects to transform individual drawings into a three-dimensional object. The drawings made on translucent paper show straight lines representing a time axis. Crumpled into a ball and folded open again, the paper shows a physical memory of the crumpling. Straight lines are reborn from curves.
The process of crumpling and straightening the paper is repeated until the showcase is completely filled up, allowing for the visual interweaving of individual drawings. The interlacing of lines represents the complex events in life that happen during each setsuna. The clear glass of the showcase symbolises the perceptive human mind containing the accumulation of time, experience, knowledge, history and emotions.
I am unable to visit the Razklon Gallery in person due to COVID-19. However, I realised that my artistic expression can physically replace me and that this is the essence of art. I think everyone should convey their intentions peacefully and with a pure heart similar to the expression in an artwork.
06/11/20 - 02/12/20
Sanctuary
Kristina Zimbakova
The installation Sanctuary by Kristina Zimbakova (Macedonia) is a display of four symbolic and figurative mixed media paintings on paper from wood-inhabiting fungi handmade by the artist. Crucified Cliff, Yoked Tree, Sanctuary and Night has Donned Her Mantle of Black are the works included, created in 2019 and 2020.
Fungi and lichens are the primary media, applied for drawing figures or creating a mosaic, besides acrylic, pastel and charcoal. The fungi have been obtained during the artist's personal forays in Macedonian mountains, in cooperation with bio-scientists. Certain species are rare or endemic, and the species' scientific names and status are cited.
Zimbakova's art practice is transdisciplinary, blending visual art with natural science and poetry. Her oeuvre is predominantly lyrical, but via prudent use of fungi specimens in an art setting, she also seeks to raise awareness for conservation of these mysterious, riveting but often overlooked organisms.
Recent solo shows include: outdoors at Belasica Mt peak (1,740m alt) on the Macedonia-Greece border (2019); Belfast School of Art, N. Ireland (2017); Meeting of the European Council for Conservation of Fungi, Ohrid, Macedonia (2017).
04/12/20 - 30/12/20
Winter in Holland
Hetty Rietveld
I wrote a Dutch haiku in January 2020 and translated it into Japanese. A haiku is a short Japanese verse consisting of three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. I calligraphed the Japanese text with ink and brush; it reads from the top right to the bottom left. Because the seasons are traditionally the subject of haiku, the images evoked are often universal. I feel this haiku, written on a Dutch winter's day, fits particularly well in the winter landscape around Tsarino as, despite bare branches and puddles of rain in the Netherlands, Bulgaria or Japan, the blue winter sky holds the promise of a new spring.
みずたまりに
くろい枝の反射や
あおい空
mizutamari ni
kuroi eda no hansya ya
aoizora
After the rainstorm,
black branches reflect themselves
in a clear blue sky