Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination… And don’t bother concealing your thievery ? celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It's not where you take things from ? it's where you take them to.” Jim Jarmusch

This quotation introduced the work of Erik Šille (*1978, Rožňava) in the catalogue Painting after Painting (Slovak National Gallery, 2010) and in many ways rendered the work of undoubtedly the most successful painter of his generation. He raised attention already during his studies at the studio of Professor Ivan Csudai, when a strong “acrylic generation” of painters emerged. Although Šille belongs to its prominent representatives, he continually continually cultivates, develops and enriches his highly distinctive style with new elements and characters. Possibly the most characteristic feature of Šille's work is his sophisticated symbolism that utilizes the form, charm, and ambiguity of the animated world and comic characters.
wrote: Alexandra Kusá (General Director of Slovak National Gallery)

At Youkobo Art Space, Erik will continue his work that he starts in 2013 in the same studio in Youkobo Art Space. He felt in love during his residency in 2013 with Tokyo, with Youkobo Art space and all the people around. This residency influenced his work and during this second stay he wants to show how. He wants to work with themes like how to live “correctly” in the fast world of instant fashion hits, multinational corporations and ecological devastations. How to find one’s place in society, in a community. He would like to show in his work the beauty of Tokyo gardens and parks, their fauna and flora.

Date	2018.02.02 - 2018.02.28
Place	AIR-3