The Opening Gallery is pleased to present Syd Krochmalny's conceptual paintings that venture into themes of authenticity, originality, and replication, by navigating the intricate maze between the genuine and the reproduced. Drawing inspiration from Chinese philosophy and its nuanced take on authenticity, the artist attempts to contrast these insights against the West’s relentless pursuit of immutable truth.
Krochmalny treats paintings as theoretical hypotheses. He paints words, not solely through the alphabets or scripts but by transcribing intangible emotions, abstract concepts, and profound philosophies into tangible color and form. Through a harmonious fusion of the visual and the verbal, he seeks to capture the profound potential of art—its inherent power to act, influence, and tap into the intrinsic essence of existence. Using brushes as my pens, Krochmalny writes with forms, hues, and textures. Each brushstroke becomes a word, a sentence, a story, echoing a symphony of creation, reception, and essence. This dance between the figurativism of the literal and the abstract allows me to construct narratives, rendering intangible thoughts into palpable visual tales.
In "Collectors Buy the Aura," the concept of origin is a comforting myth: the idea that something is singular and irreplaceable, much like ourselves. Yet, we routinely replace our sneakers annually, and society typically utilizes its labor force for a span of 45 years. Artwork, too, adheres to a similar perception. We uphold the aura of art, believing it elevates its worth to immeasurable heights. This aura, rooted in the unique existence of an object at a specific time and place, holds profound allure. While collectors venerate the time-honored aura of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, they are also willing to invest $3,000,000 in a mound of candies attributed to a deceased artist.
But, what determines the value of art? How is it established? While Karl Marx opined that commodities are opaque, Krochmalny views artwork in a similar light. These age-old questions find their answers in the evolving landscape of the art world. During the era of modernism, artists held the power to dictate the value of their work. However, post the ‘bubble effect’ of the art market in the 1980s, the value of artwork began to be shaped by the collective influences of various stakeholders - from curators, collectors, art critics, and museums, to galleries, universities, and auction houses.
Challenging traditional perspectives on the viewer's, collector's and artist’s role within the creative continuum, Krochmalny emphasizes the transcendental nature of art. It’s not just artists that give life to art, but art, with its myriad expressions and interpretations, that breathes life into us, artists.
At its core, this body of work is not just a testament to art’s transformative might, but also a vivid demonstration of how words can be rendered through brushstrokes. The artist aims to engage viewers both aesthetically and intellectually, crafting a journey that stretches beyond the limits of the canvas, resonating in the body, mind, and soul.
"Collectors Buy the Aura," grapples with the multifaceted intricacies of post-capitalist structures and the very essence of value, consumption, and obsolescence. The solo exhibition navigates the symbolic and the literal, weaving together fragments of a rapidly changing world. The deserted expanse of forsaken shopping realms evokes a dance of historical significance, intertwining with shadows of impending uncertainties. This imagery wrestles with the duality of our societal symbols, reflecting t he ongoing tension between insatiable consumerism and its inherent threats.
Venturing deeper into the fabric of commercialism, the chaos of scattered remnants raises questions on the intrinsic value and essence of art. Can art’s core remain untouched when interwoven with commercial transactions, or does it gather richness through the very systems seemingly undermining its sanctity? The interplay of originality and authenticity is another focal point. Through strokes and shades, the artist ponders our society’s relentless chase for the “unique” while exploring the intriguing confusion between the eternal and the ephemeral.
In the echoing silence of once-bustling temples of capitalism, Krochmalny envisions a transformative narrative. These spaces, while relics of past indulgences, hint at possibilities of future reimagination, urging a shift from mere transactional hubs to symbols teeming with deeper narratives. This series of works isn’t just about observation—it’s a provocation. It urges introspection, challenging viewers to dissect, interpret, and perhaps redefine boundaries amidst the ever-converging worlds of commerce and canvas.
