Passages

Kontur Magazine’s April Exhibition Recommendation

In our April exhibition recommendation, we present art events that not only highlight the unique artistic worlds of individual creators but also showcase a dialogue between different geographical and cultural spaces. These exhibitions transcend borders to open new dimensions in the interpretation and reception of artworks. The selection is dominated by installation and intermedia works, though painting and illustration also play significant roles. The artists respond to ecological crises, social issues, and technological developments, while exploring the boundaries of contemporary art and investigating human experiences and identities.

András Cséfalvay: Fundamental Mythopoesis (Fundamentálna mýtopoézia) // New Synagogue (Nová synagóga)

Žilina, 06.04 – 01.06.2025

András Cséfalvay’s solo exhibition takes visitors on a journey from distant galaxies to elementary particles, from mythology to scientific modeling, offering new perspectives on our understanding of space and time. His works examine the relationship between culture and technology, as well as the political and ethical implications of giving voice to marginalized perspectives. Often starting from the concept of anthropocentrism—the view that places humans at the center—he pushes the boundaries of human perception and understanding. The exhibition aims to move beyond conventional thought patterns and provide a space where imagination and science intertwine.

Katalin Kortmann Járay & Karina Mendreczky: Mingle and Fuse // Šopa Gallery

Košice, 22.03 – 17.04.2025
Curator: Krisztián Gábor Török

At Šopa Gallery in Košice, the works of Katalin Kortmann-Járay and Karina Medreczky are on display. Their immersive installation Mingle and Fuse is inspired by a quote from the ancient Greek alchemist Zosimos of Panopolis: “All things mingle and fuse. All things are moisten and dry. All things flower and bloom in the bowl-shaped altar.”

Through large-scale, walk-through spatial collages, the artists draw parallels between contemporary animist perspectives and their historical-cultural counterparts, rooted in ecological crises. At the same time, they strive to capture collective memory.

A recurring theme in the duo’s work is femininity within patriarchal culture. Traits traditionally associated with women are embodied in objects, plants, and mystical beings, through which the artists reveal their multiplicity and complexity to viewers.

The Nature of the Body (Povahy tela) // Alfa Gallery (Kasárne/Kulturpark)

Košice, 26.03 – 23.04.2025
Curators: Adrián Kobetič, Peter Megyeši, Lucia Miklošková

The final stop of the NOVUM – Foundation for New Art’s three-part exhibition series is on view at Košice’s Alfa Gallery this April. Organized to mark the 10th anniversary of the NOVUM Foundation Award (Cena Nadácie NOVUM), the first installment titled Before Times (Pred časmi) was held at the Pisztory Palace in Bratislava, while the second, Borders of Landscape (Medze krajiny), took place at the Rosenfeld Palace in Žilina.

These thematic, consecutive exhibitions present the works of artists awarded between 2014 and 2023, while also exploring differing conceptions of time within contemporary visual art.

Participating artists: Katalin Madarász Decsi, Ľudmila Hrachovinová, Eva Koníček, Monika Pascoe Mikyšková, Kristián Németh, Dorota Sadovská, Ján Šick, Danica Pišteková, Jana Zatvarnická.

Péter Donka: Drawing, Painting, Illustration (Kresba, malba, ilustrace) // Jiří Mahen Library

Brno, 08.04 – 02.05.2025

Péter Donka earned his degree in painting at the Faculty of Arts, University of Pécs, and currently teaches at the Medgyessy Ferenc Secondary School of Arts in Debrecen. As part of the KREILU international illustration residency program, Donka worked as a guest artist at the Jiří Mahen Library in Brno, where he opened a solo exhibition this April—featuring works created during the residency.

Donka’s art is centered around the intersection between drawing and painting, often combining various techniques and employing large-scale formats to express this fusion.

The exhibition is part of Brno Art Week, which runs from April 7 to 13, 2025, offering a wide array of cultural and artistic programs to the public, including guided tours, exhibition openings, hikes, workshops, and lectures.

Andrej Dúbravský: Local Philosopher Between Two Summer Storms // FIM Gallery

Seoul, 13.03  – 19.04.2025

Andrej Dúbravský’s work is being shown in Asia for the first time. The artist’s main source of inspiration is the southern Slovak countryside and his own garden, which hosts wildflowers and bees. This world comes to life in his solo exhibition Local Philosopher Between Two Summer Storms, currently on display in Seoul.

Dúbravský’s expressive paintings often feature caterpillars, bees, and roosters, as well as male characters of various ages. While his depictions of animals and nature reflect on ecological issues and environmental degradation, the male figures challenge traditional notions of masculinity and explore the journey of becoming a man. Both themes are present in the Seoul exhibition, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the Slovak artist’s work.

Cover Image: Detail from Mingle and Fuse by Katalin Kortmann Járay & Karina Mendreczky (Source: Šopa Gallery website)