AFA proudly presents Monumentum Pro, a new exhibition of works by Konstantin Bessmertny, curated by Amelia Johnson.
Monumentum Pro further develops themes from Konstantin Bessmertny's series Si Monumentum Requiris, Circumspice which was created for the 52nd Venice Biennale. The paintings and sculptures comprising Konstantin Bessmentny's Monumentum Pro meaning " monument for…" intriguingly allude to the Latin verb monere – to warn, to advise, to remind, from which the noun monumentum is derived. Employing Konstantin Bessmertny's idiosyncratic characters and distinctive technique, the works appear to be part monument and part morality tale, their tantalizing warnings, whimsical commemorations and cautionary narratives appearing to form visual declensions of the verb monere.
Konstantin Bessmertny is one of the most distinguished artists working in Asia today. His technical mastery, achieved after seven years of studying Fine Art in the grand academies of the former soviet union, combined with his detailed knowledge on a wide-range of subjects including literature, music, history and politics lend to his work an intelligence and a credibility that is rarely witnessed in contemporary art. Konstantin Bessmertny's work is utterly unique, employing humour and candour in depictions so subtle and gentle that they require revisiting time and time again to uncover all that they have to offer. Never formulaic or predictable, Bessmertny uses his work as a means of exploring and experimenting with new ideas, finding inspiration in the bizarrest of places and creating work that continues to challenge and excite preconceived notion.