HOMO VIATOR
10 October – 24 October, 2024
Noiascape, High Street House, 83 Askew Road, London W12 9AH
PERHAPS A STABLE ORDER CAN ONLY BE ESTABLISHED ON EARTH IF MAN ALWAYS REMAINS ACUTELY CONSCIOUS THAT HIS CONDITION IS THAT OF A TRAVELLER.
– GABRIEL MARCEL (1951)
Willow Art Space is excited to present Homo Viator, a group exhibition that explores the journey of the human spirit through diverse artistic expressions by Jan Valik, Lily Hargreaves, Liu Bing, Lorena Levi, Louise Janet, Paula Parole, Jiang Yifan, and Zhang Shangfeng.
Homo Viator is a Latin phrase that describes man as the eternal traveler. It is also related to the Greek understanding of man (Anthropos), emphasizing the journey of life. The existentialist philosopher Gabriel Marcel also used this phrase as the title of his 1942 book, in which he describes man as an itinerant being.
Time and space are two forms of this journey, and hope is the supreme underlying tool that keeps us “being on the way” (en route). As human beings travel between past and future, exploring in-between spaces, Homo Viator has become a central figure of contemporary society, providing a sense of identity and a drive for discovery and dialogue against the backdrop of globalization and mobilization.
The exhibition brings together the works of eight contemporary artists, each offering a unique perspective on this existential theme. Jan Valik initiates an ongoing dialogue between intuition and rationality, cultivating a process where external space, internal subconsciousness, and the exploration of colors and brushstrokes interact. Jiang Yifan, Paula Parole, and Zhang Shangfeng combine, structure, place, and appropriate fragments of memories and everyday life into metaphysical realities, offering a new narrative open to interpretation. Lily Hargreaves delves into distant pasts, reshaping historical narratives to offer fresh insights. Louise Janet focuses on the seemingly tenuous and repetitive nature of daily life, revealing the infinite enigma of the ordinary. Lorena Levi examines the digital sphere, using chatrooms and online forums to form her relationships with her sitters and her paintings. Liu Bing’s practice is deeply rooted in her experiences living across Africa, Latin America, China, and India, infused with the intuition and imagination to explore humanity as a monumental book.
Through 19 carefully curated works, Homo Viator reflects on the resilience and adaptability required to navigate the complexities of modern life, exploring themes of hope, community, and the human spirit’s enduring quest for discovery.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a series of workshops will be held, organised by Zhimin Zhang and Jiachen Zeng, led by the exhibiting artists, aiming to engage local communities and schools. These workshops will delve into local folklore and storytelling, creating a rich dialogue between art and community.
