Doxa & Episteme – In Search of the Real Deal is an exhibition curated by Loredana Pazzini-Paracciani, featuring artworks by Agan Harahap, Budi Agung Kuswara, Miti Ruangkritya, Nakrob Moonmanas, Naraphat Sakarthornsap, and Victoria Kosasie.
Referred to as popular opinion or common belief, the ancient Greek term doxa became a topic of major concern in Western philosophy when Plato associated it with the emotional and illusory part of the brain. In classical rhetoric, doxa is contrasted with episteme, the Greek term for knowledge, or true belief. In the context of this exhibition, the opposing concepts of doxa and episteme (illusion and truth) are lightly adopted as a syllogism for pervasive and nowadays often digitally construed visual representation. Through digital and conceptual manipulation of cultural knowledge, we are lulled into certain shared values that ultimately define our beliefs, national identity, and sense of belonging.
The transformative potential of visual representation in shaping social and cultural narratives is the point of departure of this exhibition, on one hand questioning the significance of increasingly prevalent digital adaptation and, on the other, investigating perceptions of propaganda and control. In a time of visual information overload, both real and artificial, is it possible to discern illusion from truth – the real deal? Do technological advancements, from artificial intelligence to other generative systems, enhance or distort the interpretation of visual culture? What happens to the physical process of creating art, for instance, by assembling, sculpting, or printing?
To address these questions, the invited artists from Thailand and Indonesia examine ongoing issues of national and cultural identity from both personal and collective perspectives, prompting us to ponder the consequences of invasive visual representations. Spanning video, photography, and AI-generated mixed-media installation, the featured works examine the implications of mutation, digital and otherwise, in reinterpreting national archetypes, such as cultural ideals, mythology, and historical trauma, and explore the use of archives in analysing our current societies.
Venue: Mizuma Gallery, 22 Lock Road, #01-34 Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108939
Hours: 11am-7pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays, and 11am-6pm on Sundays
When: 13 Jan - 8 Feb 2024,
By: Mizuma Gallery
