Exhibition at Arma Gallery
September 12th to November 30th

“LUCID DREAMS”

Arma Gallery - Contemporary Art - Lucid Dream Exhibition - Home

Curated by: Victoria Rivers

 

Through innovative exhibitions and collaborations with artists, the space not only presents the most audacious proposals of current art, but also fosters an intercultural dialogue that enriches the understanding and appreciation of art in a global context. 

Arma Gallery in its faithful commitment to contemporary languages, inaugurates in its season opening, the group exhibition “Lucid Dreams” curated by Victoria Rivers, a window to the most avant-garde trends where it celebrates international creative diversity. 

 

LUCID DREAMS 

 

As real and vivid as life itself, sometimes the uncertain realm of dreams can be. At times, it is a world so intense and tangible that it leaves an indelible mark. In the realm of lucid dreams, where we are conscious, we wander at will through dimensions, among signs and oracles that manifest as prophecies. 

In the eternal quest for inspiration, creators turn to the dream world, knowing it offers the chance to materialize concepts that might otherwise remain inarticulate. As Gustave Moreau noted in the 19th century, “The artist’s task is to create concepts that do not exist in the tangible world, forging unprecedented symbols and imbuing them with unheard-of meanings.” 

Poets, musicians, and artists have sought and continue to seek the coveted laurel crowns through this exploration of dreams that “opens doors to new dimensions of artistic expression, thereby expanding the boundaries of imagination and interpretation” (2). A notable example of this connection is Un Chien Andalou (3), 1929, which emerged from the union of two dreams of its creators, Buñuel and Dalí, and illustrates how dreams can be decoded through dreamlike images, challenging established conventions. Freud (4) interpreted dreams as a release of the repressed, while Jung (5) saw lucid dreams as a gateway for artists to connect with the collective unconscious, facilitating the emergence of archetypes and symbols in the conscious mind. 

“Lucid Dreams” invites us to explore the territory of the “unknown,” a limbo between the earthly and the ethereal, where the uncertain takes on renewed significance in the contemporary artistic process. In this exhibition, we witness the serendipity of the unexpected, as international artists develop their works from the truth of their practice, using the psyche and impulses as their starting point. 

We observe how these avant-garde creators approach their dreams firsthand, seeking to materialize the immaterial by taking control of the subconscious and crafting their own narratives. In this dreamlike state of creation, the dreamscapes offer a reservoir of images and concepts that, though they escape everyday logic, resonate within our world. The forms, strokes, and nebulas emerging from this expanded consciousness translate abstract visions into tangible manifestations, creating a work that serves as a bridge between different dimensions, revealing the richness of subjectivity and the symbolic codes that reflect and transcend human experience. 

Sleeping artists who rewrite the world through these dreams… thus, artistic creation becomes a manifestation of suprasensible freedom, straddling the material and the subtle, opening new avenues of understanding. The visions make sense before they dissipate, before we open our eyes. 

“Lucid Dreams” seeks to transform this space into a melting pot of experimentation and dialogue, capturing the dynamism and constant evolution of contemporary art through new techniques and perspectives found in the most international talent. In this context of questions and discoveries, this series of works fosters a deep interaction between the artists’ approaches, promoting an enriching exchange of ideas that expands our understanding of art in its most innovative and transformative forms. 

In essence, it highlights the inherent ability of every human being to be a co-creator of their own life, thereby manifesting a profound connection between individual creativity and the spirit of our time. 

 

Victoria Rivers 
Art curator & Writer 

 

(1) Quoted by Gustave Moreau, 1864. Source: Hofstätter, Hans H.: Gustave (2)Moreau, (1980). (2) The Committee of Sleep, Dr. Deirdre Barrett, (2001). 
(3) Buñuel and Dalí, Un chien andalou, (1929). 
(4) Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, (1899). 
(5) Carl Jung, The Psychology of Dreams, (1964).

 

Participating Artists:

Emanuelle Tozzoli, an Italian artist, combines abstraction, cubism, and impressionism in pieces that are both ethereal and viscerally captivating. His creative approach, akin to composing a symphony, is reflected in his works, rich in color and emotion. Tozzoli, with training in music and art, merges these disciplines in a way that transcends traditional boundaries, creating impressionistic scenes that blend portraits, symbolism, and cubism with a vibrant palette. His use of acrylics, spray paint, and oil pastels, along with techniques like collage and wall enamel, showcases his ability to experiment with various artistic methods.

Kyte Tatt is a mixed-media artist from the United States, now based in Berlin, Germany. Self-taught and naturally creative, Kyte began his artistic journey in 2015 after moving to Berlin, quickly developing his own visual language as a painter. With a decade of lived experiences and travels in a caravan across the U.S., Kyte has been part of various artistic communities and projects that have shaped his current work, characterized by its emotional depth and richness.

Luis Olaso is a Spanish visual artist who began as a self-taught artist and later graduated in Art from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU. His work straddles the line between expressionist figuration and abstraction and has been exhibited in prominent galleries such as JD Malat in London, Makasiini Contemporary in Turku, Juan Manuel Lumbreras in Bilbao, Mirat Projects in Madrid, and Galería KUR in San Sebastián, among others. Olaso has participated in international fairs like Zona Maco in Mexico and Estampa in Madrid, and his work is part of prestigious public and private collections, including the Contemporary Art Foundation in Tokyo, the SIMCO Foundation, and the Santander Creative Foundation. He has been awarded and shortlisted in prestigious competitions such as the Reina Sofía Award for Painting and Sculpture and the International Painting Focus Award.

Jiri Hauschka, a Czech artist and member of the Stuckism movement, is known for his work that oscillates between abstraction and figuration. Born in Šumperk and educated in classical arts, his work has been influenced by his time in the UK, where he met Charles Thomson, the founder of Stuckism. His unique style combines abstraction with magical realism, inspired by his own experiences and perceptions. Hauschka’s works, often focused on landscapes imbued with mysticism and magic, evoke a captivating atmosphere of misty forests.

Madison Tyrell, a graduate of Queen’s University in 2017, began exhibiting her paintings following an artist residency in Berlin. Her career has included solo exhibitions such as “Adorn & Dissolve” in Vancouver and “Loosing Touch” in Barcelona. Currently based in Barcelona, Madison has taken her work to an international level, participating in the UVNT Art Fair in Madrid in 2023. Known for her deep exploration of contemporary themes and innovative use of materials, her work continues to evolve while challenging the conventions of modern art.

For more information or to receive the dossier with available works, please contact: info@armagallery.com.

Hours and location

OPENING: 12.09.2024 | 6pm
After the opening: Monday to Friday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

C. de Valverde, 30. Entreplanta derecha. Madrid, Spain