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VENEZIA MESTRE

L’allarme di Lena Herzog: “Tempi difficili all’ orizzonte”

by Riccardo Petito
April 19, 2024

[translation]

Lena Herzog's alarm: «Difficult times ahead»

EXHIBITION IN VENICE

«There will be no salvation for us, unless we learn how to look at ourselves, deep within ourselves, or else, very difficult times are coming" A message, more than ever, is linked to chiaroscuro works of great impact by Lena Herzog, an American artist of Russian origins. Presented yesterday during the inauguration of her of her "Any War Any Enemy". Curated by Silvia Burini and Giuseppe Barbieri, opened at CFZ - Ca' Foscari in Dorsoduro.

The work includes murals, engravings, monitor and an installation. “Any War Any Enemy” is an ideal continuation of a previous project presented by Lena Herzog at the Art Biennale of 2022, which had also included a projection in the courtyard of Ca' Foscari, for The Art Night. But if the previous project was dedicated to the extinction of languages, this time it's about the extinction of the entire planet, in the imminence of a possible and catastrophic nuclear war.

The artist’s attention is two-fold: from the universal and the danger of a planetary scale conflict to the individual emotion and suffering. «In this black mirror - says Herzog - we all see our own own reflection and understand our dark side." Black mirror is presented to the spectator, who can reflect: “Who is my enemy?” Maybe, yes, may be it is just ourselves.

The subjects of engravings are born from a meticulous photogrammetry operation (with several thousand shots) of friends and neighbors, made into subjects of a series of mise-en-scènes. They arise from three-dimensional digital sculptures. Transposed images are copied onto copper plates, and then printed by hand. "Translation of digital images onto paper - concluded Lena Herzog - is a fascinating example of an artisanal craft, made possible from the collaboration I have enjoyed with Bottega del Tintoretto." These images emerge from the dynamics of bodies, that reference ancient and modern works, from late medieval "Lament over the dead Christ" by Niccolò of the Arca, to Goya and "Guernica" by Picasso. Also an "expansion" of the virtual reality project, is now announced. And, in the future, not far now, the last third part of what was conceived as a triptych is coming. Secluded, yesterday at the inauguration, was the husband of the artist, the legend of world cinema Werner Herzog.

“Any War Any Enemy" can be visited until the 22nd June,

from Monday to Saturday with

10am-6pm, Sunday 3pm-6pm.

Riccardo Petito

CFZ AT THE ZATTERE by Lena Herzog