New Forms of Fragility

The main exhibition of the 12th edition of the LUSTR Festival is titled New Forms of Fragility. If you close your eyes and meditate for a moment on the word “fragility,” what comes to mind? As a trait, it is often considered less desirable, and in many minds it is probably close to weakness. Our world values performance, productivity, action, decisiveness… None of these, at first glance, seem to intersect with fragility. Yet fragility can also be a source of great strength—layered, complex, and taking many forms, including paradoxical ones.

And how do illustration and comics engage with these themes? This year’s main festival exhibition focuses on the work of multinational illustrators who embrace and work with a certain form of fragility—whether in their formal approach or chosen topics. In terms of form, fragile illustration may reveal itself through a delicate organic line, a distinctive color palette evoking a sense of nostalgic safety, misty shapes, trembling compositions, or a feel for visual lyricism. The subject matter includes deep dives into inner experiences, stories of searching for one’s identity (often difficult to label), emotions in romantic and friendly relationships, coming to terms with one’s own physicality, exploring unconventional sexuality, or confronting a challenging personal past.

Jana Jarošová, Exhibition Curator

Exhibiting artists:
Adam, Audrey Ramos, Eric Schwartz, Inès Gradot, Jiyung Lee, Kristina Fingerland, Lucie Barbora Kudláčková, Malwine Stauss, María Medem, Melek Zertal, Noemi Vola, Raman Djafari, Sarah Böttcher, Sophie Couderc, Stanislava Hudecová, Tara Booth, Ula Zuhra, Whitney Bursch