HYB4 Galerie: Jiří Petrbok: Hard to Be a God

Site specific exhibition by Jiří Petrbok examinates new-old approaches. An allegory of the vanity of the polarity of the welfare world in consumerism, warfare and the search for self-determination in themes beyond the human matter. Petrbok will present a completely new series of works that do not seek solutions or answers to serious questions, they only paraphrase and reflect the continuous media reflection of the world in the author's work.

With Jiří Petrbok, we have been conducting a dialogue for a long time about the meaning of art, its contribution and finding ways in this field. The realization of this exhibition was a logical and exciting step for us as curators, full of expectations for the resulting works, but also for the process itself, which is often an interesting story.

We started working on the exhibition shortly after Petrbok finished teaching at the Drawing Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (1995–2023). Thanks to this, Petrbok closes an important chapter of his life, which allows him to open up more intensively to new possibilities and creativity. In his current work, he explores new positions and finds deeper meanings that often unplanned reflect the current state of world events. His works thus become a kind of mirror of the times, a diary subliminally recording the events around us.

Compared to Petrbok's previous exhibitions, the search for a new form and content became the main intention, the process. The exhibition represents the journey and process of the work. From the painting with a bunch of bananas that Petrbok stumbled upon in the fruit and vegetable store, to the golden creatures in the "landscape" made of meat. Bananas became the first impulse that grew into a whole theme and color palette. The golden color, which began to fascinate him because of this, formed a new whole, from which new principles, mythological characters and the depth of his paintings emerge.

Historically, the color gold, complemented by royal purple, symbolizes high spirituality. In Petrbok's presentation, these "Gods" are transformed into "Devils" who adorably dress up in flesh... or are they grieving? This remains a question to which the author himself answers: "I don't want to correct, moralize, instruct, etc., I'd rather cut off my hand!" ... For the curators, however, the work reflects the current destruction, greed and false nature of man caused by war conflicts and questions the intentions of the parties involved. As an instrument of destruction, war transforms the world, while vultures circle over the devastated landscape. However, the multiplicity of symbols and meanings go further and give the opportunity for reflection and diverse interpretations in connection with the inner landscape of the observer. Everything mentioned above gets into Petrbok's paintings subconsciously, although often without initial intention.

This double image of the world of polarities is further developed by Petrbok using light and dark, as in his earlier works from Prague's Špála Gallery in the series "Haunted Animals" where fluorescent colors work with another layer of the image. The original visible images are unexpectedly transformed. There is a kind of game with the viewer, who is supposed to be uncertain and forced to reevaluate his original view, his opinion of the plot in the picture. Petrbok reflects the constant cycle of "sleep and wakefulness", he becomes aware of his actions and the need for constant vigilance.

Despite the aforementioned context, it is important to emphasize that Petrbok is not a political author. Rather, he considers himself an observer, a medium who sensitively captures a higher reality. His works skillfully depict a world that intertwines across the timeline in different psychological layers of the personality - from history to the sci-fi future. His paintings are decadent scenes with spiritual undertones, and it is precisely these newly accessible positions that allow him to confidently create a holistic depiction of spiritual insights in a modern context.

 (Curators: Filip Kazda, Michal Štochl)

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The opening will take place on 30 September from 6pm in C.0 HYB4 Galerie.

C.0 HYB4 Galerie is opened: Mon—Fri 9am—10pm, Sat 10am—9pm