Homage to Light
Ľuba Lauffová, Miro Trubač
PRESS RELEASE
The exhibition Homage to Light represents the fourth curatorial project of the FOG Gallery within the regularly recurring series, which aims to bring together seemingly disparate art worlds. Previous projects – Bleyová/Hrachovinová, Csáderová/Ausgang Studio, and Mináčová/Troskó – have sought to establish a dialogue between different media and artistic approaches that reflect the Slovak art context of the last half-century.
The current exhibition focuses on the work of Ľuba Lauffová (1949-2004), an important Slovak photographer of the second half of the 20th century, known for her inventive and experimental work, and Miro Trubač (1986), a contemporary sculptor specialising in figurative sculptures that combine elements of irony and self-discovery. The central theme is based on a common element in the work of both artists – the phenomenon of light.
In her series Homage to Michelangelo, Lauffová refers to the technique of luminography, i.e., drawing with the help of a light source in space and recording it with a long exposure. The artist explores light as a key part of creation, but also of human existence. She sees light not only as a technical means, but also as a kind of metaphysical essence that animates images and becomes a carrier of psychological and spiritual meanings. Trubač, on the other hand, uses light on both a material and conceptual level in his work Blue Blood. The sculptural figure is created by modelling in virtual space and then through 3D printing on UV-sensitive material. The material reacts to light, revealing or concealing the physicality of the figure, while at the same time pointing to the fragility and impermanence of life. Both artists see light as a stimulus that makes the fleeting physical reality visible and emphasizes the depth of existential questions – questions of life, death, or adaptation to a changing world.
Another significant connection in the work of Lauffová and Trubač is their use of figurative forms as a means of narration. The figure in their work serves as a medium that conveys emotional intensity and narrative complexity. While Lauffová focuses primarily on abstraction and its imaginative traces of light, Trubač works with the realistic figure in conjunction with a reinterpretation of iconography and symbolism.
By linking the works of Lauffová and Trubač, we open up new levels of meaning, which are created by viewing the works of both artists as one homogeneous whole. This approach brings new interpretations of existing works and reveals connections across generations of Slovak artists. Here, light is not only an object but also a catalyst for exploration. With its magnetic effect, it is a carrier of mystery, desire and knowledge. Like an insect fascinated by bright light, it cannot resist its strong attraction; similarly, the viewer is inevitably drawn closer to the work, pulled into the depths of introspective reflection.
