The exhibition NOWHERE presents a cross-section of Igor OST’s artistic practice at a moment of transformation, shaped by new realities of life in exile. It is, in a sense, a drawing of a line — an attempt to finally move from a state of “nowhere” toward a condition of presence and self-recognition, marking a transition to a new stage. Within this context, the medium of printmaking becomes for the artist not merely a technique, but a tool for philosophical reflection. In each impression, the texture of the engraving, the depth of the mark, and the subtlety of the support create a space in which the visual and the conceptual intertwine. Each work thus emerges as an original — a foundation not only of form, but of time itself, a fixation of a singular moment within the continuous flow of memory.

NOWHERE showcases a variety of OST’s series and the diverse media in which he works: from intaglio and linocut to monotypes, drawings on ceramic tiles, and painted canvases. Each series and technique reveals a new facet of his artistic method, allowing familiar motifs to be apprehended from unexpected perspectives.

Born at the intersection of historical epochs, Igor’s practice carries the imprint of varied life experiences, including periods in exile — a position of both observation and detachment, in which the familiar order of things is perceived as impermanent and uncertainty becomes a constant. From this vantage point, the artist traces and examines humanity’s footprint in the world, addressing contemporary social and political transformations. Series such as Forbidden in RF and Homoprotectus explore mechanisms of power and control, the paradoxes of security, while simultaneously crafting visual narratives that retain aesthetic harmony and a refined, contemplative presence.

In Herbarium and Transparency, OST merges historical depth with contemporary context: Vanitas meets graffiti, flora and fauna meet human intervention. Each composition functions as a palimpsest of memory, where past and present, the personal and the collective, enter into dialogue. The works create spaces in which objects — as if artefacts from the future — invite reading and interpretation, raising questions about the transience of life, the illusion of progress, and the human role in the world.

NOWHERE offers no ready answers; it fixes a state of presence — a “nowhere” in which viewers simultaneously coexist and elude one another. Each work opens a window onto this moment, where anxiety and beauty, chaos and order, the personal and the global coexist. OST’s art encourages the apprehension of a unique instant, prompting reflection on memory, time, and humanity’s place in the world, leaving the viewer with questions that cannot be ignored.

In this point of “nowhere” — where form meets idea, and gaze meets experience — the power of printmaking and Baranov’s other media is revealed: the ability to capture the trace of reality, to fix the ephemeral, and to render it eternal.

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20 February - 10 April 2026, open on weekdays from 11AM - 7PM.

Address: Prometheus Gallery @ Localie Hub (Rudi van Dantzigstraat 3, 1095 PK, Amsterdam)

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Catalog of the exhibition could be found here.

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if you are in Amsterdam, please come to the Vernssage:

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