THE DUMP CONCEPT IN LEONID ŠEJKA’S WORK

Abstract

This text considers The Dump concept in Leonid Šejka’s work, as well as unique place which it takes in his oeuvre, as a part of the complex cosmogonic scheme named City-Dump-Castle. In this concept a special emphasis is placed on object in the “technology era” with its domination of the “superobject”, because it is, in artist’s opinion, reflection of the alienation, existential problems and dehumanization of the modern man. Believing in the possible “renaissance” of the entire Civilization and its return to The Center or The point Omega, a new cognition of man’s importance and place as the microcosmos in the macrocosmos, Šejka went to The Dump and, in accordance with transit classificando principle, selected, classificated, named, performed destruction, initiation and other ritual activities over repudiated objects, thus trying to reach their essence, lost over their imposed utility. Therefore the modern man will, as artist hoped, likewise renaissance man achieve cognition of the essence of his being, as well as being of the surrounding world, hence become homo integrale, and take one step closer to The Centre. By specific relation to object in his artworks, Šejka was creating different, transcendental world as the reflection of his ideas and belief that the new modus vivendi can be created.