Kasper Bosmans, shortlisted artist of the Future Generation Art Prize 2019

In his interdisciplinary and often playful works Kasper Bosmans investigates histories of traditions and objects creating new narratives to offer a critical view on cultural and political relics.
Leaning on his research into European political and cultural history, in Amber Room and Star Chamber Bosmans implicitly critiques the mechanisms of authority and power by rendering them as aesthetic objects. By superimposing an aesthetic rendering of the Amber Room, (a room panelled by wrought amber, gifted by Frederic II of Prussia to Peter the Great of Russia in 1717 to forge an alliance against Sweden) on top of the decorative scheme of the Star Chamber (A room in Westminster palace, London that housed a court of law that punished politically and socially prominent figures from the 15th until the 17th century which currently stands as a symbol of power abuse and absolutism). The small stork skull disrupts the quiet authority of the room, mechanically clapping its bill at irregular intervals. The fact that these birds don’t have vocal chords seem to be a significant fact in this context. ‘Triumphal Arch (Bowels)’ with its combination of the digestive tract going through a crown and the ruined state of the arc starts to play a significant role under these circumstances. The series of four so-called Legend paintings are a visual guide to divulge nuances and details of the anecdotes used to make the installation.
The work is presented at the exhibition of the 21 shortlisted artists for the 5th edition of the Future Generation Art Prize. The exhibition reveals a breadth of contemporary art practices from a judicious selection of artists and artist collectives spanning five continents. Established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in 2009, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the prize's founding.
Featuring new and recent works, the exhibition explores two recurring themes through a variety of media. The first considers an 'archeology of the future', exploring the past and present through the eyes of tomorrow. Using cutting-edge technologies, the works question the possibilities of interpreting knowledge in today's world.
Investigating ideas of the self, the second theme of the exhibition draws from individual socio-cultural values and traditions, whilst also exploring more poetic considerations of the psychological journey. Here, artists similarly reflect on a discrepancy between those traditions and shifting realities in a globalised world.
More information:
futuregenerationartprize.org