During Amsterdam Art Week 2025, Josilda da Conceição will present the exhibition I Made You Up, in which artists Quintus Glerum and Christos Mavrodis create a fictional character together. The opening will take place during Festive Gallery Night on Thursday 22 May between 17:00 and 21:00.
In the exhibition, the common ground that two artists, Quintus Glerum and Christos Mavrodis have found themselves on is deeply connected to their process of personification of fictional characters. United by a shared interest in narrative, this exhibition represents their narrative exploration through a spatial interpretation of a character study.
Both artists have previously created individual works from the perspective of fictional characters—examples include Life of Lucy and Kiki’s Wonderful Little Worlds. For them, the process of crafting works through a fictional lens often serves as a means to process and reflect on their personal experiences. For this exhibition presented at Josilda da Conceição, their roles will be reversed. The character is meant to be mutually crafted by both artists.
Shared vision and shared experiences underneath a character that strives to be seen, understood and listened to. This intercommunicated creative endeavour expressed through various media, merges the boundaries of what is seemingly fictional and real. The personality emerges as a shared construct, shaped by the convergence of two distinct perspectives, yet so familiar.
The concept of shared space encompasses a diverse collection of collaborative works that seamlessly blend various forms of artistic expression, including paintings, installations, and interactive video game simulations. Each piece in this collection serves as a unique exploration of the environments constructed for characters to inhabit, allowing for an intriguing dialogue between the character’s fictional world and the artistic medium utilised. By merging elements of visual art with digital storytelling, these works challenge and transcend the traditional boundaries between the external reality and the internal experiences of both the creators and the viewer. Through this approach, the artists not only question the ownership of creative work but also explore the tension between fiction and reality, challenging conventional notions of authorship and narrative.
Visit the gallery during Festive Gallery Night or any other moment during Amsterdam Art Week.
