The exhibition will take place in a 17th-century basement with heavy brick vaults. The interior, decorations, and lighting will place the iconographic works in their natural context, reminiscent of a monastery crypt or catacombs.

Flickering dim light will accentuate the golden details of the paintings. The exhibition will host video art and musical performances combining electronic, experimental, and traditional religious music. Visitors will also experience the immersive scent of church incense.

Iconography and avant-garde art are two things that come to mind when we think of Eastern European art showcased at Accidental Light. The unknown artist combines techniques and concepts from both traditions. While museums and private collectors spend billions on counterfeit works by Malevich, Kandinsky, Exter, and Lissitzky, their living, genuine conceptual heirs remain unknown.

The Unknown Artist is not only inspired by this heritage but also follows the fate of past artists. Forced emigration due to Russian censorship of free creative expression and anti-war sentiments bonds her with the avant-gardists.

Meanwhile, Eastern Christian iconography traditionally remained anonymous. Isographers saw themselves not as creators but as vessels receiving and pouring out the gift of the true eternal Creator.

Choosing to remain unnamed is a protest statement. The age of information overload, social media, and attention economies sacrifices the reputation and autonomy of artists to the whims of algorithmic gods.

Artists and influencers exploit viral agendas to gain visibility. The Unknown Artist refuses to take advantage of war and the hardships of the times—it's an inner necessity to work on these themes.

The unknown artist employs Eastern Christian and avant-garde imagery not only in painting but also in performances. The guerrilla exhibition Dead Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 and the solo picket Silent Aria at the Budapest Opera House in 2024 served as both anti-war statements and an address to the artist's muteness ignored by states, institutions, and society.

Venue: 
Arany Oroszlán Kulturális Egyesület
1053 Budapest, Papnövelde utca 2

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