WHAT HAPPENED?

"What Happened?" serves as a reflection on history, inviting viewers to contemplate the stories behind the art, prompting questions about the human condition, the passage of time, and the fragility of existence. Through their exploration of imperfection and past mistakes, the artists challenge traditional notions of beauty, resilience, and perfection, embracing the messy, chaotic, and unpredictable nature of life. Keijzer's work delves into themes of history, youth, mistakes, and accidents, capturing the raw energy and emotional turbulence of childhood. Through her realistic, textured paintings, she explores themes such as pleasure and pain, reflecting on the intertwining of discomfort and joy in life. Juan de la Rica's painting themes are diverse, often exploring the past through an introspective lens informed by art history. From mythological scenes to still lifes, his works present open narratives with an ironic approach, infused with everyday life and a surreal atmosphere. Einari Hyvönen formulates brilliant paintings rooted in post-digital techniques, transporting viewers back to beloved childhood characters such as Sonic or the Smurfs. Through his process, he crafts tragicomic images that intertwine dramatic situations with these familiar figures, offering a unique viewer experience resulting in a mirage of distorted iconography. Tom Gully, a German artist, captivates audiences with vibrant artworks, skillfully employing expressive colors and textures against static backgrounds. His creations evoke the stylistic essence of early 1950s animations while integrating contemporary pop culture references, serving as a poignant reminder of childhood's universal thread connecting us all. "What Happened?" offers deep introspection into the human condition, weaving connections between past, present, and future. The selected artists engage in impactful, richly-layered works exploring themes of memory, myth, history, literature, and poetry. Each piece expresses a refusal of limits, probing the depths of memory through their singular, iconic practices. "What Happened?" seeks to recognize the capacity of contemporary art to promote reflection on universal and philosophical issues, drawing from collective nostalgia and the individual experiences of the artists, all in service of the whole.