Exhibition at Galleri 69 Explores Spirituality and Utopia in Contemporary Art

A duo exhibition at Galleri 69 in Oslo, Norway, features works by artists Esra Düzen and Lykourgos Porfyris, examining the intersection of spirituality and utopian ideals in contemporary art. The exhibition, held in a charming backyard building of a previously occupied structure on Toftes gate, addresses themes such as spiritual colonialism, dogmatism, and dialectical materialism. Esra Düzen presents a series of sculptural pieces titled 'The Wailers 2-5' from 2026, consisting of stylized, weeping faces crafted from thin aluminum sheets with delicate lines. These faces, featuring large eyes with spiral pupils and cartoonish tears, are mounted on metal rods, birch trunks, or decorated MDF and aluminum bases. Their repetitive, emotive expression evokes parody, reminiscent of figures like Pierrot from commedia dell'arte, while also drawing on pre-modern deity forms from Thai Buddhism, Hinduism, and Oriental symbols without direct reproduction. Lykourgos Porfyris contributes an installation called 'Prayers for Togetherness and Other Beautiful Cringe' from 2026, which includes four listening stations arranged in a cross, where visitors can kneel on gold-embroidered red velvet cushions to experience a fusion of techno music and Greek Orthodox chanting. The setup incorporates Christian symbols, modern club culture, and elements suggestive of charismatic church movements like Hillsong, highlighted by a slanted neon sign depicting a hand emoji. The exhibition reflects broader trends in contemporary art toward spiritual themes, as seen in events like the Ultima music festival in Oslo and recent shows at Kunstnernes Hus. It questions the secularization of society and explores how art can reclaim ritual and communal spaces from dogmatic or exclusionary forces, though the role of dialectical materialism in this context remains ambiguous. The works invite reflection on emotional responses to suffering and the search for socially accepted forms of mourning in an era marked by collective loss and ideological exploitation.