In this captivating showcase, fourteen artists from various European generations respond to reality, memory, and imagination through their unique creative journeys. Though their subjects vary—portraits, families, cities, myths, emotions, and symbols—the common thread is the notion of painting as a slow process of understanding the world.

"The Sun Shone from a Different Place" does not simply denote difference; it speaks to the vantage point from which we observe. As our perspective shifts, so too does the direction of light, revealing new layers and textures of the world around us.

This exploration of light sources continually challenges the limits of visual perception. Von Wolfe blurs the lines between traditional oil painting and AI co-creation with his surreal compositions, crafting an ambiguous realm where reality and illusion entwine. In contrast, Jonas Burgert delves into the human spirit, constructing a microcosm rich in symbolism. His narratives unfold like battles on the fringes of an apocalyptic landscape, capturing the intangible loss, fear, and struggle within the human soul.

Amid this profound introspection, Marinella Senatore introduces the power of community, transforming "light" into a social medium that elevates the creative space into a shared theater. Meanwhile, Alessandro Giannì employs collage techniques to navigate cultural symbols, seeking individual coordinates within contemporary society.

As the narratives shift towards intimate emotional dimensions, Frida Wannerberger and Alice Herbst unveil intricate autobiographical hues. Wannerberger transforms bodily forms and attire into expressive instruments, weaving an emotional biography of identity, while Herbst dissects everyday objects with calm precision, reconstructing perspectives on self-observation. In this identity reformation, Armin Boehm responds to societal anxieties and contradictions through densely layered visual structures.

This analysis of reality further evolves within the exhibition into a deep reconstruction of symbols and structures. Michael Alexander Campbell extracts forms from photography, fostering an original tension that exists "before representation," while Ryan Mosley creates an absurd theatrical exploration—examining the shifting dynamics of social and familial relationships. Alicja Pakosz encourages us to reconsider seemingly mundane behaviors and thoughts, defining these often-overlooked actions as "banal national symbols" through her research into Polish lore and local popular culture.

In an ultimate expression of painting’s purity, Eleanor Johnson and Gillian Ayres engage in a dialogue that transcends time. Johnson’s figures dance between abstraction and figuration, embodying the eternal and sublime quality of classical masterworks; whereas Ayres employs vibrant, celebratory colors to transform natural experiences into visual festivities. Lastly, Edgar Plans and HIMBAD bring these grand narratives back to contemporary life through the intuition and ironic symbols of street art, with their fluid graffiti lines reflecting their humorous yet slightly rebellious souls.

As these works converge within the same space, they illuminate a collective practice of "painting as slow cognition." In an age where images are swiftly generated by AI, these artists choose to return to the canvas, solidifying ephemeral thoughts with layers of paint. The visual illusions of Von Wolfe, the apocalyptic anxieties of Burgert, Wannerberger's emotional biographies, and Johnson’s ethereal sublimity create a powerful complementarity within the space. Though each artist’s light source varies, when these beams intertwine, they collectively illuminate the rich, multifaceted depth of contemporary European painting—a realm that both honors tradition and boldly challenges reality.

Text / Sam Yang