Statement:

The second edition of PDF_IRL, titled ’Eco(ed) Visions’, brings together artists whose works explore nature's sanctuary amidst the urban sprawl, forging an intimate connection.///

Delving into the complex relationship between urbanization, aesthetics, and nature, contemporary thinker Mark Foster Gage advocates for an understanding that transcends mere superficiality. He proposes that urbanization has transformed architectural edifices into the primary backdrop of our reality. In this interpretation, we can perceive nature’s role in human life as diminished to that of a leisurely destination.

When the insatiable pursuit of a human-centric world is constructed upon the demise of the natural environment, a poignant realization surfaces. As the relentless tide of urbanization swells, a palpable reliance on art to fill the void left by nature becomes a necessary consequence. The trajectory toward a future where artistic depictions wield heightened significance, capturing not only images but their very essence, invites contemplation.

It is in this context that the artworks presented in ‘Eco(ed) Visions’ convey visions of the human habitat, with depictions that defy idealized settings, ephemeral moments of ultimate truth, or an inaccessible, once-glorious world. These artistic expressions remind us of the intricate relationship between humanity and its environment, challenging us to confront the realization of our impact on our habitat.

Together, the works in the exhibition echo an invitation for the re-imagining of futures that intertwine nature and human life over their constructed boundaries. Can we manifest new realities by widening our awareness of the relationship between the urban and the natural? What do we find when we seek sanctuary in nature against the backdrop of uncertainty and existential crises? How do we hold on to the visions of a new spring, waiting to be born again?

Curated by Sanaz Askari

Hosted by Alserkal Avenue