Jakub Nepraš (CZ) → Dron~list

About project

This monumental audiovisual object was inspired by the machines of Leonardo da Vinci, shifted into a vision of our society’s imminent directions. This transforming videopainting recalls impressionist paintings, with subliminal structures that reflect the duality of our modern era – both beautiful and bizarre.

The calmer, more natural phase of the animation sometimes betrays its second civilizational face, a product of modern society. Will we stop trusting it as a result? We often don’t know how to view our own innovations and rapid social progress. Can progress become a natural part of our evolution, a second nature that is influenced by our behavior and achievements, or will it lead to our ruin? Is there any point in trying to stop that progress?

“dron~list” shows the tenuous border of our fluctuation within an integrated supercomplex. It represents what we blindly believe and what we are always apprehensively polemicizing.

Sound is created by Ondřej Skala.

This installation was created with the support of Zenit and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

About artist

A graduate of the School of Monumental Art and New Media of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Jakub Nepraš has been exhibiting his work since 1992 at numerous international exhibitions, important collections (Nanjing Biennale, Gwangju Biennale Korea, Expo 2010 Shanghai, Museum Colecção Berardo Lisbon, SIART Biennale Bolivia, Essl Award, and more), and international festivals (ARS Electronica, SPARK Minneapolis, Transmediale Berlin, Videonale 12 Bonn). In his work, he operates on the conviction that the over-technologized world literally creates a “second nature,” which he freely transforms using his videopaintings into unique and humorous microcosms.