7.5 x 12 cm
SEEFOOD ROOM and SHOUT proudly present The Labyrinth of Solitude, a group show curated by Cyrus Lamprecht featuring Tobe Kan, Lio Sze Mei, Ashlee Ip, Lau Hong Lam, Kwan Yung Yee, Belinda HY Chan, Kiki Lee Tsz Ki, Pui Yi Leung, Manny Yip, and Jason Ho at 3-4/F, 9 On Lan Street in Central from 18 August to 17 September.
“The very moment the slave refuses to obey the humiliating orders of his master, he simultaneously rejects the condition of slavery. The act of rebellion carries him far beyond the point he had reached by simply refusing. He exceeds the bounds that he fixed for his antagonist, and now demands to be treated as an equal.”
— The Rebel by Albert Camus
Camus, A. (1991). The Rebel. (A. Bower, Trans.) (1st ed., p. 14). New York: Vintage Books.
Individuals who were held captive in palaces and labyrinths possessed a strong desire to free themselves from their confinement.
In Greek mythology, King Minos of Crete constructed an intricate labyrinth beneath the Knossos Palace with the intention of confining the Minotaur, a creature possessing the physical attributes of a bull's head and a human body. As a form of punishment, individuals who were considered prisoners or captives in Crete were banished to the labyrinth. Unfortunately, their attempts to escape often led to their demise at the hands of the Minotaur's predatory nature.
After King Minos attacked Athens, a treaty was established. According to the agreement, seven pairs of teenage boys and girls were to be offered every year as sustenance for the Minotaur. Prince Theseus of Athens volunteered to be sacrificed, driven by his determination to slay the Minotaur. During this period, Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, developed romantic feelings for Theseus and devised a plan to assist him navigate the labyrinth by providing him a ball of thread. Ultimately, Theseus emerged as the heroic figure who successfully defeated the Minotaur and led the people to liberation from the labyrinth.
Both emperors and prisoners share a common experience of solitude, but only one has the freedom to express their true selves. The identity of the master is intrinsically linked to the presence of the servant, and both parties exhibit fundamental humility in the presence of power. Whether confined within palaces or labyrinths, individuals cannot escape the physical constraints imposed upon them. As a result, their solitude can become a form of sanctuary.
Individuals direct their gaze towards their destiny within their solitary realm, anticipating the opportunity to transcend their current circumstances.
Text by Cyrus Lamprecht
