[Mischa Kuball, "Platon's Mirror," 2011. ZKM, Karlsruhe © Onuk] Mischa Kuball, Platon’s Mirror :: Curator: Blair French :: August 31 – September 30, 2011 :: Opening: August 31; 6:00 pm :: Artspace, 43–51 Cowper Wharf Road Woolloomooloo NSW 2011, Sydney Australia.

Düsseldorf-based media artist Mischa Kuball works with light’s socio-political dimensions across a range of gallery exhibitions and public space projects. In Platon’s Mirror, Kuball draws upon one of the most influential stories within European literature: Plato’s allegory of the cave in Book 7 of The Republic. In this influential text the philosopher draws a distinction between two forms of reality: the reality of the visible world and the (true) reality of ideas. Kuball presents simple yet highly effective installations using projectors, silver foil, photographs and videos that create perceptual and experiential spaces analogous to that of Plato’s cave. In doing so he translates the complex relationships among light source, reflection, silhouettes and representation into seemingly endless stages of mediation, within which reality is continually newly constituted as the reality of its reflection.

Mischa Kuball, Platon’s Mirror results from a partnership between the artist, Artspace, ZKM|Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe where the exhibition was shown earlier this year, and the Goethe-Institut who are touring the project internationally.

The exhibition is preceded by a symposium at Artspace on Friday 26 August (from 1pm). Chaired by Blair French ‘Mirrors, Doubles, Shadows, Caves: Plato and Contemporary Art’ will feature contributions from Professor Andrew Benjamin, Dr Adam Geczy, Dr Jennifer McMahon, and Dr David McNeill. For further details and to download the symposium program visit here.

An accompanying Platon’s Mirror reader edited by Andreas F. Beitin (ZKM|Center for Art and Media) and Blair French, and designed by Christoph Keller is also being prepared for publication with Walther König in Germany.

Mischa Kuball’s work is presented alongside the work of Brisbane artist Sandra Selig. Selig’s be some other material, created over a three-week Artspace residency period, adds to the artist’s ongoing series of light installations involving both audio and moving-image elements. In her work Selig invokes the Taoist concept that through perseverance humans can alter the substance of the world around them so that it becomes ‘live’ and apparent in new ways. We see how an artist can ‘bring matter to life’ through Selig’s adept use of audible rhythms and darkness.

Mischa Kuball, Platon’s Mirror and accompanying symposium are presented in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Australien.

Mischa Kuball’s visit to Sydney is supported by the Goethe-Institut Australien.

Studio Residency Program Major Supporters: Toby Smith and Edwina McCann.

Artspace is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. Artspace is assisted by the New South Wales Government through Arts NSW and by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Artspace is a member of CAOs (Contemporary Art Organisations Australia) and Res Artis (International Association of Residential Art Centres).