Re-placement
- Presented by
- Fakewhale
- NIGHTTIMESTORY
- Artists
- Mit Borrás
- Jesse Draxler
- Manuel Fois
- Leander Herzog
- Tom Putman
- Ana Maria Caballero & Hieroglyphica
- Huber Huber
- Mario Klingemann
- Lolo & Sosaku
- Marius Lut
In the tale of a grand art collection comprising installations, paintings, sculptures, videos, and more, tragedy struck when a catastrophic fire ravaged the collection. The owner, heartbroken by the loss of his cherished artworks, found solace in the photographs that survived the inferno. Contemplating the notion, "Can a projection of a work replace the work?" the owner embarked on a quest to reconstruct the lost collection by exhibiting the photographic remnants.
Can an image of the artwork be as significant as the physical piece?
This is the central question of the project RE-PLACEMENT, an avant-garde collective showcase unveiled by Nighttimestory in partnership with VERSE and FAKEWHALE, two pioneering endeavors in digital contemporary art and NFTs.
Our operation is more of a provocation than a conventional exhibition, challenging the very concept of physicality in art. With this project, Nighttimestory aims to bridge the gap between the world of contemporary art and blockchain technology, offering alternatives to the traditional contemporary art market and opening new paths for the artists who engage with us to explore the potential of blockchain technology.
Once upon a time there was a large art collection that included installations, paintings, sculptures, videos and much more...
One day, however, the unthinkable happened: a terrible fire destroyed the collection.
The owner was devastated, all the artworks that he had loved so much had gone up in smoke.
The only thing that remained were photographs of the works...
After days of sadness, he decided to do something to put the collection back together.
He decided to rebuild it in some way, exhibiting only the photos of the now non-existent and destroyed works.
... this soon became a central question for him.
He began to print the photos on large panels and hang them on the walls.
The small works were enlarged, emphasizing textures and colors that were otherwise difficult to see and appreciate,
The larger, monumental works, on the other hand, were easier to perceive at a single glance.
The success exceeded his expectations, so much so that one day the city museum made an offer to purchase the entire photographic collection.
“Sometimes, the copy repairs the original and replaces it,” thought the owner.
Digital images cannot wear out, and they cannot burn... they cannot even be lost without leaving a trace, because it is online where they live, open and visible to anyone, the images are forever... the images remain.
Installation view, Mit Borrás, Adaptasi Cycle, 2023. REPLACEMENT, digital exhibition. Image courtesy of Nighttimestory Gallery.
Installation view, Ana Maria Caballero & Jason Sholl, 2023. REPLACEMENT, digital exhibition. Image courtesy of Nighttimestory Gallery.
Installation view, Jesse Draxler, The World Is Mine & I'm Thinking About You, 2023. REPLACEMENT, digital exhibition. Image courtesy of Nighttimestory Gallery.
Installation view, Huber Huber, Versuch (Experiment), 2023. REPLACEMENT, digital exhibition. Image courtesy of Nighttimestory Gallery.
Installation view, Lolo & Sosaku, Painting, 2022. REPLACEMENT, digital exhibition. Image courtesy of Nighttimestory Gallery.
Installation view, Tom Putman, The grey goblin, 2023. REPLACEMENT, digital exhibition. Image courtesy of Nighttimestory Gallery.
Rekindling his connection with the lost masterpieces, he projected the photographs onto large panels. Minute works were magnified, revealing intricate textures and colors, while grandiose pieces became more easily perceivable. The venture's success exceeded expectations, culminating in a city museum's proposal to acquire the entire projection.
In the digital realm, images are impervious to wear and tear, fire, or loss, existing eternally in cyberspace for all to witness.
