The exhibition “Deities and Shadows” is a collaboration between Arurkokk and George Manos, that combines research, documented BMX tricks and visual arts. It explores the connections between art and Jungian psychology, through an interdisciplinary approach on archetypical iconography.
The starting point was the definition of the theoretical context. Then, a collection of images, photographs and video stills, depicting works of art related to symbolism, esotericism, Jungian psychology, philosophy, mysticism and alchemy, created a bank of found images. These images were related to the works of: Birkhäuser Peter, Blake William, Čiurlionis Mikalojus Konstantinas, Diefenbach Wilhelm Karl, Grey Alex, Jodorowsky Alejandro, Merhige Edmund Elias, Moreau Gustave, Prinzhorn Hans, Rauschenberg Robert, Roerich Nicholas, Rops Félicien, Spare Osman Austin, Vasilevich Nesterov Mikhail. The initial plan was to project our own interpretation on each subject by drawing upon these found images. That led to a collaborative process of postproduction. By utilizing the Surrealist automatism methods (automatic drawing/writing), a series of 21 mixed media visual works was created. This experimental combination of found images, sketches, seals, words, ink drawings and digital media, led to the visualization of the Shadow (in Carl Jung’s terms).
The parallels were drawn easily with the Pantheon depictions, since the inspiration for them stems from the same ideological, philosophical and theological background -the same field that all the aforementioned artists deduce their inspiration. The deities that are presented have as a common core the archetypes according to Jung’s approach. The documentation of the BMX tricks that is juxtaposed with the deities’ images, is a product of a long-lasting exploration process. The bicycle being a tool of shaping and bringing to light these forms. For the most part the exploration consisted of positions that are unusual and riveting. Clear forms that could be perceived in a blink of an eye. Although this was the initial goal, it occurred that they were snapshots of perennial figures that inhabit the human mind. These archetypal modes as they are being defined in the Jungian psychology, Platonic ontology, pagan antiquity and latter Christian theology, could be objective innate beings or even –far more extraordinarily- a far-fetched massive occurring phenomenon of apophenia. The BMX tricks have mundane names and attributes. The goal was the eternal beyond the ephemeral much like BMX’s main goal which is there from the beginning one starts to ride, but gets sidetracked among the course of things intruding. These connections are visualized by juxtaposing each documented BMX trick with its God/mythical creature reference (as they were illustrated through the history of art).
The connections between art and Jungian psychology became more apparent as the field was explored theoretically, physically and visually. The theoretical aspects of the research and the documented material came into a creative dialogue with artistic practices and media, in order to explore these archetypal connections, visualize them (in a fragmented way), and present them within the exhibition context. So, this exhibition explores the Jungian archetypical iconography, through an interdisciplinary approach that consists of: research, performance documentation and visual art. It contains a brief history -or a slideshow one might say-, of the evolution of chthonic polytheistic entities of the reptilian brain to their sanctification and rehabilitation in the context of the Christian monotheistic icons of the revolutionized neocortex part.
Text by Arurkokk and George Manos.
The exhibition Deities and Shadows took place in Wisedog, Larissa, Greece at 4-31 May 2025.
Curated by Arurkokk and George Manos.
Publication description:
Cryptomnesia.
2022. Ioannina, Greece.
44 pages, plus cover. Digital printed.
A4 size. Bound with black plastic spiral.
Edition of 40.