In the artistic areas of literature, plays and fine art, the term illusion is often used to suggest a certain reality, to enchant the audience or to produce augmented effects. The Latin term illudere is related to the root word ludere, which means “to play”. Etymologically, it is obvious that illusions „play” with or deceive our senses and judgments. This exhibition aims to do the opposite, to “deceive” the general illusion of graffiti and street art. So often the audience has certain expectations of graffiti and street art, be it stylized words and letters, the extensive use of spray cans or a wild and urban aesthetic of public space. The exhibition Just An Illusion, should expose the negatively afflicted „illusion of graffiti and street art“ which is still and often considered the “enfant terrible” of art history.
Just „open up your eyes and look around…“ as in the song Just an Illusion (1982) by the British trio Imagination states. The exhibition encourages to see urban arts with different eyes, welcoming it as part of the contemporary art movement. The artworks of the exhibition demonstrate great versatility and dexterity using different materials and surfaces including high quality craftsmanship. From fine art painting, to optical illusions, to ceramic. The artworks are multi-layered and reveal depth.
The exceptional creativity of the following artists originates from their graffiti lifestyle, attitude and mindset. Although producing studio-based artworks, they are inspired by their graffiti and urban practice day by day. The graffiti mindsets taught the artists that there are no limits and (almost) no rules. Part of that is freedom of expression often times off the radar, flexibility and creativity to find solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges. Passion, liberty, self-determination and tenacity characterize the creative paths of these exceptional artists:
