Ekvilirbij/Equilibrium

“Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.” – Confucius

The desire for harmony, consistency, and stability as a result of the proper relationships is present in all cultures of the world and in all periods of time. To nature and the body, the micro and macro cosmos, equilibrium is an inherent state, but the question we have been unable to unambiguously answer so far is how to achieve such a state in the relationship between the external world and inner experience, between mind and body.

The many possibilities of realizing one's own self, of achieving balance, inner peace, and fulfilment, are those that create an individual’s modus vivendi – and this is the unifying theme of this exhibition by the artist Dorian R. Španzel. Be it a samurai, a family man, a housewife, a geisha, a scientist, a researcher, or an adventurer, each of them was guided in their choice of lifestyle by the desire for security and satisfaction—for the good, the sublime, and the harmonious. The exhibition Ekvilibrij/Equilibrium leads the viewer through a diversity of lifestyles, meanings of existence, and ways of life to insight into the unity of primary desire, which represents the foundation of human longing as well as the progress and development of civilization.

With this exhibition, on the one hand the artist deviates slightly from his usual motifs of intertextual images and distinctive symbols from a broad range of visual messages of mass media and a socially critical note. However, on the other hand, he retains his characteristic anecdotes, originality, ingenuity, and rich content, which offers the viewer a different insight into reality. The artist developed his advanced use of artistic techniques and critical thinking while studying design and contemporary art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice (Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia), and he built upon this during his master’s programme at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana. He does the same in this exhibition, which combines various techniques, design methods, and materials that imbue his works with freshness and originality, and demand active attention from the viewer through personal involvement.