28.10-24.11.2017
As the location of Kunst Kiosk - the red light district in Hamburg - provokes the citizen to look at sexuality as a normalized behavior without taboos or social restrictions imposed by society, so does the exhibition project explores the concept of contemporary art as a lure: What is lure? What does art mean on a place where sexual, party and music revolution happens? How can art seduce like sex seduces? What is it that makes it so attractive? What is it that makes it so exclusive? Is it about exclusiveness or accessibility? The metaphor of attraction and luxury in contemporary art as a lure, with what happens in the daily life of the red light district by means of printmaking techniques – the artist’s main body of work, is the main conceptual exploration of this exhibition.
Rita Vargas (1981), PT. Vargas is a Doctor of Philosophy in Art and Culture Studies (Art History), by the University of Jyväskylä (FIN), with the support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). She also holds a BA/MA in Fine Arts and Art Education by the University of Évora (PT), and Winchester School of Arts (WSA), University of Southampton (UK). Vargas accomplished artistic residencies in Japan (2007–2008), in Finland (2009–2010), Portugal and Germany (2010). Vargas' artwork is represented by Jyväskylä Artists Association (Galleria Becker), Ratamo Centre for Printmaking and Photography (Galleria Ratamo), Galleria Patina (FIN), and Casa das Artes de Tavira (C.A.T), PT. Vargas is also represented in public and private collections in Portugal, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, Japan and Finland. Vargas exhibits regularly since 2003, in solo and group exhibitions in Portugal, Finland, Bulgaria, Germany and Japan. Vargas taught at the University of Jyväskylä courses on the Deparmtent of Music, Art and Cultural Studies focused on Art History (History of Performance Art, History of the Print), as well as practiced-based hands-on studio printmaking techniques for the Open University of Jyväskylä. Vargas has also curated exhibitions in Portugal and Finland, and was the artistic director of Print Up Gallery (2016), in Jyväskylä. At the moment, Vargas focuses only in her artistic practice in Grafiikka-ja Valokuvakeskus Ratamo (Jyväskylä), although still discussing her academic research in national and international art history and cultural studies conferences. Vargas is also a mother.