Convergence: Counterparts in Visual Art from the 15th to the 21st Century

In April, the Cyprián Fine Art Gallery, in collaboration with Arthouse Hejtmanek, presents the exhibition Convergence. Counterparts in Visual Art from the 15th to the 21st Century. At its core lies the concept of juxtaposing old and new art. The aim is to enable the viewer to experience a dialogue between works from different eras, which may function either through contrast or as a profound interplay.

 

The exhibition addresses the significant loss of understanding and appreciation for works by old masters from past centuries. Society’s preference for the “new” increasingly displaces categories that have long shaped our culture. This is where the key idea of the concept emerges: to open the viewer’s eyes. Art from earlier periods still holds a place—both in terms of quality and aesthetics—in our living and collecting spaces, and it can coexist with contemporary art, if not even elevate it.

 

Within the broader context of the history of representation, the exhibition explores shared themes across works that are far removed from each other in time, depending on the medium chosen. For example, an Italian sculpture of Venus (16th century) is paired with an erotic photograph by Helmut Newton (1920–2004); a painting from the workshop of Joachim Wtewael (1566–1638) is shown alongside a unique silkscreen print by Andy Warhol (1928–1987); and a stormy sea by Pieter Mulier II (1637–1701) is contrasted with a chemically contaminated swimming pool surface by Petr Dejmek (*1997). Naturally, the works also stand on their own due to their selected quality, even without a counterpart. However, this curatorial approach encourages the viewer to reflect on what they see and to engage intellectually with the subject matter.

 

The collection comprises more than 40 works spanning five centuries, created by both national and international artists. The pieces were selected according to the curators’ preferences as well as their own art historical and commercial focuses.

 

Curators: Tomáš Hejtmánek Jr. and Cyprián Činátl