Tomorrow‘s shadow it‘s a win-win
–ChatGPT, May 6 2023

Berlin, Germany – The Mehdi Chouakri Gallery is thrilled to announce the upcoming exhibition of Claude Closky, a renowned French artist who has gained worldwide recognition for his innovative and witty approach to art. The exhibition, entitled Tomorrow‘s shadow it‘s a win-win will be held from June 29 to September 2, 2023, and will showcase Closky‘s latest works.

In Tomorrow‘s shadow it‘s a win-win Closky pushes the boundaries of language and visual art, creating a thought-provoking and engaging experience for visitors.

The exhibition will feature a unique collection of short poems that refer to a wide range of current events, including social issues, politics, ecology, economy, sport, lifestyle and culture. The poems, printed on a large scale, will be directly pasted to the gallery walls like posters to form a curious landscape. Upon closer inspection, the objects and scenes are revealed to be composed entirely of words, creating a fascinating play on language and perception. Figures might appear to be both human and monstrous, or both a living creature and a produced object. These dichotomies reflect the complex and often contradictory nature of our world, where beauty and horror can coexist side by side. This use of oscillating figures also creates a tension between the natural and the artificial, highlighting the ways in which modern society has transformed and commodified the world around us.

Closky‘s use of humor and irony is also a noteworthy element of the exhibition. While the poems address serious issues, they are often infused with a wry sense of humor that creates a sense of playfulness and lightness. „Closky‘s exhibition a reflection of our times,“ says Mehdi Chouakri, the gallery‘s founder. „The works are a commentary on the state of the world, but they are also a celebration of the creative spirit that persists in the face of adversity. We are thrilled to be able to bring this exciting new body of work to our audiences in Berlin.“

Closky‘s poems, with their simple language and playfully ironic tone, offer a unique perspective on the complex issues of our time. The artist draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including news headlines, social media, and popular culture, to create poetic vignettes that speak to our collective experience. The poems are not only a means of expression but also a visual spectacle, and the viewer is invited to engage with them by getting up close and personal, evoking a sense of both familiarity and strangeness.

The exhibition‘s title, with its enigmatic and somewhat cryptic phrasing, hints at the complex ideas and emotions that Closky seeks to explore through his work. At first glance, the title suggests a dichotomy between the present and the future - today‘s reality (the present) and the potential outcomes of our actions (the future). The idea of a „shadow“ implies something that follows us, yet remains elusive and insubstantial, like the future itself. The phrase „win-win“ suggests a positive outcome or resolution to a situation, in which all parties benefit. This could be interpreted as a hopeful sentiment, indicating that there is potential for positive change and progress in the future. Taken together, the title „Tomorrow‘s shadow it‘s a win-win“ might suggest that our actions today have a ripple effect into the future, and that we have the potential to shape that future in positive ways. It‘s a reminder that the choices we make today will have consequences, and that we have the power to create a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and for future generations.

Speaking about the exhibition, Closky said: „I am thrilled to be exhibiting at the Mehdi Chouakri Gallery in Berlin, and I hope that visitors will enjoy works on display. Tomorrow‘s shadow it‘s a win-win explores the concept of win-win, a term that is often associated with business, but which can also be applied to art and life in general. I hope that the exhibition will encourage visitors to reflect on their own ideas about success, collaboration, and creativity.“

Through his use of poetic language, Closky creates a sense of immediacy and urgency. By addressing a wide range of topics, he highlights the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate issues and encourages viewers to consider the broader implications of their actions and choices. Closky‘s use of scale and space is also noteworthy. By pasting the poems on the walls of the gallery, he creates an immersive experience for the viewer. The viewer is invited to engage with the work not only on a visual level but also on a physical one, as they move through the space and interact with the text.

This press release has been generated by an AI language model known as ChatGPT, which is involving natural language processing and machine learning. However, the poems featured in Claude Closky‘s exhibition were not generated by the AI.

Photos © Andrea Rossetti