Succumbing to Temptation

Faith has its origin in the poetic imagination; knowledge, on the other hand, originates in the reasoning intelligence of man.

Ernst Haeckel, zoologist and naturalist

Kids tend to imagine different natural and man-made objects as things to play with. They become characters of the child’s imagination – without attention to the initial purpose. For Latvian artist Aleksandrs Breže, environmental design and the functionality of the objects we surround ourselves with are the main sources of inspiration. He enlivens pieces of furniture and interior elements by playing with associations and blending boundaries between traditional and futuristic aesthetics. 

Lasered, welded, screwed and suspended – his sculptures all have the propensity to create a captivating feeling of uneasiness, of something that twists our subconscious mind, prejudices and relationship with those aspects of life connected with the term faith. 

Sharp edges and flame-like silhouettes somehow translate the forbidden that is often the most desired. We’ve heard from the bible, and TikTok keeps reminding you, that a man is just a man, with all his flaws, doomed to mortality. When entering adulthood, we learn new ways of play and form new types of relationships to the world. Suddenly we are exposed to a sea of responsibility and a never-ending search for purpose while all we can do is surrender to and dwell in the tempting pleasure of nothingness.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with LOOK! Gallery in Riga.

FUNDING

The exhibition is supported by the City of Tartu, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia

TEAM

Artist: Aleksandrs Breže
Production: Stella Mõttus, Raivis Alksnis
Communication: Karin Kahre, Stella Mõttus
Installation: LOOK! Gallery
Photography: Marju Eelma (exhibition views), Luisa Greta Vilo, Fotomorgaana (opening)
Text: Elīna Sproģe
Graphic design: Aleksandra Samulenkova
Editing and translation: Refiner Translations