EcoIlluminations: Textures in Natural and Synthetic Forms
7 – 29 11 2024
In the delicate interplay between the natural and synthetic, the exhibition “Ecoilluminations” invites viewers to walk through a landscape where the essence of nature merges with the complexity of human creation. The exhibition presents artworks that explore the tension and harmony between the human and natural world, between natural materials — wood, stone, and earth — and synthetic ones, like plastic and paper, revealing the deep relationship we maintain with our environment. (…) Through artworks — from paintings, sculptures, installations, and videos — the exhibition confronts viewers with questions of identity and responsibility. In a society increasingly defined by (mass) consumption, rapid availability, and disposability, the exhibition “Ecoilluminations” encourages us to reexamine the narratives we construct around the objects we create, use, and the environments we live in. As you move through the exhibition space, you can find moments of pause and reflection, discovering not only the beauty inherent in the materials themselves but also the complex dialogues they initiate. Here, in the “borderline” space between natural and artificial, we are invited to reflect on our role within the intricate web of life — a reminder of the delicate balance we must strive to maintain in an ever-changing world. Art becomes a tool for raising awareness about the environment, social justice, and human rights, inviting viewers to think more deeply about our shared responsibility towards nature and each other.
a: Mark Šircel
Mark Šircel was born in 2000 in Pula. He attended the School of Applied Arts and Design in Pula where he earned the title of painting designer and was named the best graduate in Pula. In 2019, he went to the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, Department of Painting, where he earned his degree as a graduate painter. He then pursued a master’s degree in Media, Media Production and Journalism, obtaining a master’s degree in media production. He is currently pursuing his second master’s degree in fine arts. He has exhibited at numerous solo and group exhibitions, been part of various art workshops, festivals, and participated in numerous art projects and programs. He completed professional development in Graz and Maribor. He creates in the fields of painting, sculpture, photography, graphics, graphic design, art installations, performance, video and new media, and questions their existential issues, mutual laws and boundaries. His works can be found in the holdings and collections of numerous museums and galleries. He is a member of the Croatian Association of Artists of Istria (HDLU Istra).