HRD Fine Art is delighted to announce the opening of a solo exhibition of Belgian artist Gery De Smet, titled "Causality Unintended," which will go on display from October 7th through November 27th, 2021. This will be the artist's first ever exhibition in Japan who is based in Belgium and active throughout Europe and beyond. This show is also an affiliate program of "KG+ 2021," a satellite event of "Kyotographie International Photography Festival."
Gery De Smet is working around the themes of identity, immigration, nationality, and power. Particularly, his interest lies in "invented tradition." Gery De Smet researches the identity of people and demasks the constructions behind it. At the same time, De Smet's works are quite accessible, leveraging the pure power of images.
In this exhibition, De Smet presents a series of photo-collage, where he cuts out cardboards to show some geometrical patterns, which actually form "Rune" alphabets that date back to ancient Europe. The Nazis used them in early 20th century to claim their authenticity in historical traditions. And now some European extreme rightist groups also use them in an attempt at reviving fascism. Here, however, through the cutout windows you see pornographic images, and if you look closer, you see that these are images of people of different skin colors making love, or images of homosexual situations. So here, two types of images are coming together - one that the extreme rights will love, and one they will abhor. In this way, De Smet questions the power of imagery and symbolism in contemporary society and twists our perception of history and reality.
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This exhibition includes sexually explicit images. Please view responsibly and at your own risk. Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed entry except when permitted and accompanied by their parent or guardian. No photographing is permitted inside the gallery.
The artist will not travel to Kyoto for this exhibition.
