Laura Limbourg, hailing from Belgium and currently studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, draws inspiration from her six-month journey in Southeast Asia. Her paintings depict exotic jungle flora, Asian religious symbols and statues, as well as persecuted sex workers on city streets. Laura deliberately captures the naked female body, rejecting the confines of gender stereotypes. She portrays women with confidence, accompanied by tigers and floating skulls (Medusa), finding joy in the face of adversity. Her artwork possesses a unique identity, responding to social issues through painting, which may be bold and explicit, yet also carries a translucent provocation and resignation.
On the other hand, Jan Soumar focuses on the unpredictable developments of technology and the relationship between humans and technology. Similar themes can be observed in science fiction films, such as the warfare between AI technology and humanity. Jan creates his artworks using the panoramic mode of a photography app, intentionally disregarding the app's instructions (such as shooting along guided lines), resulting in intriguing distortions. Through a non-cooperative approach to technology, the artist creates distorted and fragmented facial features and scenes, detaching and reassembling them. Jan has previously combined images in the form of collages and transferred them onto canvas with pigments. Today, he utilizes the elements of distortion within manipulation applications, generating unique transformative forms.
The group exhibition of Laura Limbourg and Jan Soumar intertwines their distinctive perspectives, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between spirit and form, human experiences and technological influences. Through their expressive and paintings, they offer a captivating glimpse into the complexities of contemporary society.
