Temple of Light

Solo show at Underdogs Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal — June 2021

In search of answers, in his new exhibition Pedro Campiche AkaCorleone presents us with the opportunity to witness and participate in the launch of a new cult.

An ascent made in stages, fluctuating between physical and digital, obscurantism and light. He invites us to explore, under its idealistic and seductive appearance, the bitter truth of the religion of which he is the initiator.

The first stage is in the dark, the abyss: throughout our lives, human beings are severely put to the test, spirits in permanent struggle, first with the self, then with the other.

The pandemic the world has experienced this past year has been decisive in the realization of this project by the artist. The confinement, the disruptions in the sense of time, the information and misinformation, especially coming from social networks, have again placed the notion of self and interaction with the other at the forefront.

The next stage takes us towards light and idealism: in his exhibition, the artist decides to visually take on positive language specific to social networks. Ambiguous messages, which seem to help, and indeed do help, but ultimately reveal themselves as double-edged: “Everything is going to be alright.” This self-persuasion, this strength everyone has inside, is the intrinsic answer to find the strength to overcome hardships. Materialized in the exhibition, the light reveals the artworks, plays with our points of view, and clearly projects optimistic messages.

And then comes the last stage: our participation in the creation of the Temple but, above all, the revelation.

The cult is materialised in the future construction of the Temple of Light, an integral part of the believer’s ascent.

The visitor is invited to enter its virtual version, yet to Find the ultimate answer, to be touched by the eternal light and not fall back into the initial most terrible darkness, there is one and only answer: “We accept cryptocurrency.” To your fine conclusion.