About the Initiative

The "Umění bydlet" exhibition presented twenty works of art by contemporary Slovak artists of the younger and middle generations in the context of modern living in the very heart of Bratislava.

This unconventional exhibition took place from May 9 to July 11, 2024, in two as-yet-uninhabited and unfurnished apartments in the Kesselbauer residence in Bratislava. Its aim was to bring the aesthetic quality of contemporary Slovak art into modern living and present both worlds—art and living—in a mutual dialogue. At the same time, the initiative served as an inspiration for current and future residents, as well as the general public, to encounter visual art more frequently. Not only during occasional gallery visits, but primarily where people spend the most time—at home.

More details about the pop-up exhibition on the official website: https://www.kesselbauer.sk/sk/umenie-byvat

The initiative also found its place in the broadcast of the Slovak television station TA3:

• Rozhovor s Monikou Hamed, Ředitelkou Marketingu a PR, PROXENTA a Bárou Alex Kašparovou, externí kurátorkou Artist's Hero.
• TV reportáž z vernisáže, 9.5.2024

Why Art?

"Art is one of the elements that can fundamentally influence our perception of spatial quality. Sensitively selected artworks can enrich the aesthetic experience of an interior, stimulate creative thinking and emotions, inspire the spirit, and spark discussion."

It was gratifying to find that over the course of two months, the exhibition attracted more than 70 private visits and inspired over 150 art lovers and potential investors—in both art and real estate.

Curator's Choice

The exhibition's curator, Bára Alex Kašparová, carefully selected and installed a curatorial selection of twenty works of art. Over 200 square meters of a segmented, still raw interior created a labyrinth of nooks and crannies where it was possible to discover the precision and depth of paintings as well as the sophistication of objects by contemporary Slovak visual artists – Zuzana Badinková, Stanislav Ondruš, Šimon Szabo, David Hock, and Samuel Paučo.

Curator's text: Bára Alex Kašparová

What does it look like when art meets everyday life? It depends on what four walls shape our personal space – and it definitely matters what hangs on them.

The art of living doesn't just mean choosing the right place for our daily life, but also fulfilling the need to surround ourselves with objects and stimuli that bring deeper mental stimulation and elevate the spirit. An artwork is precisely the element that can elevate our space to a higher level.

Entitled Umění bydlet, the exhibition presents the current creative direction of five academically trained Slovak artists of the younger and middle generations. These creators represent contemporary thinking and trends, while their distinctive works stand out in a unified environment. Abstract painting is open to the viewer's gaze – it does not offer specific subjects that would eventually stop resonating, but rather color fields function as projection screens that open up space for contemplation and calm, provided we pause in the present moment and look correctly. Harmony, balance, but also the necessary dose of tension that draws us out of routine and pulls us into the story of the work, which we help shape alongside it through our own experience and imagination.

Stanislav Ondruš

Through his distinctive technique, Stanislav Ondruš achieves a monumental calligraphic expression that plays out color relationships in monochromatic scales or unique combinations.

Zuzana Badinková

In her canvases, Zuzana Badinková employs an exact approach to the perception of the artwork, creating an experimental space through formal reduction and a non-figurative language. She thus offers the viewer the opportunity to immerse themselves in a world of color relationships in a precise painterly form.

Samuel Paučo

Samuel Paučo brings a striking gesture, expression, and accumulated energy to his works, constantly drawing the viewer's gaze and conveying a powerful emotional charge. The tensions his paintings evoke act as an impulse to break free from lethargy and inspire activation.

David Hocko

Dávid Hocko blends graphic, painterly, and design thinking into timeless works of geometric abstraction and optical phenomena.

Šimon Szabo

And just as paintings complete an interior, objects also define its character—for example, the sculptural works of Šimon Szabo. These reflect contemporary sculptural language, are created from noble materials, and carry within them current social themes such as identity, sexuality, love, or ecology.

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you goes to Magdaléna Dorčáková and Monika Balgová for driving this initiative forward on behalf of PROXENTY, the developer of the Kesselbauer residence, and ensuring its successful materialization. A massive thank you to our dear colleague and friend Bára Alex Kašparová for curating such a unique portfolio of artworks.

Last but not least, we thank you, dear artists – Zuzana Badinková, Dávid Hocko, Šimon Szabo, Stanislav Ondruš and Samuel Paučo – for being open to this unconventional exhibition concept. We value our cooperation and look forward to further joint projects!

The story of the exhibition and its atmosphere were captured by "storyteller" Peter Varga, and the artworks were photographed in their full glory by Filip Beránek. Thanks to both photographers!