Lukáš Novák’s Vices

Inspired by the iconic cycle Virtues and Vices by the Baroque sculptor Matthias Bernard Braun, Lukáš Novák thematises the seven cardinal sins in his new series called Vices. By updating them for today’s world focused on performance and endless growth, he points to a society of ‘social bubbles’ living in completely different socio-economic and cultural conditions. The utterly different life contexts of individuals coexisting so close to each other lead not only to social gaps, mental illness and other pathological social phenomena, but also to the fact that as a society we are no longer able to agree on even the basic principles of morality. This ambivalence in ethical issues is the central theme of Novák’s series. The exhibition is not only a tribute to Baroque art, but also a provocative call to reinterpret the values ​​that define our society today.

The sculptures, made among other things from a unique mixture of crushed glass, evoke sandstone with their texture; the artist thus creates an impressive contrast between the traditional material of sculpture and the current trend of circular economy. By impressively interweaving Baroque drama and suggestiveness with elements of contemporary pop culture, Novák reflects the tension between historically rooted moral principles and their current interpretations in late capitalist society.