On Alchemy

Roberts Projects is pleased to present On Alchemy, a group exhibition that engages alchemy’s rich history and visual language to re-evaluate artistic production of the 21st century. Bringing together more than 20 individuals working in painting, sculpture and mixed-media, this exhibition positions artists as the alchemists of our era to generate new perspectives on contemporary art and meaningful insight into the creative process.

With origins dating back to ancient Egypt, the centuries-long pursuit of alchemists can be distilled into a singular objective: to perfect the human mind, body and soul by harnessing the power of forces beyond our understanding. This desire was represented in the form of the Philosopher’s Stone, an unknown, mythical substance with the ability to cure any disease, transmute base metals into gold and produce the elixir of immortality. While alchemy was demoted to a pseudo-science during the 18th century, its lasting impact on human civilization—and countless artists across generations—can still be measured in the multitude of belief systems that emerged in its wake, including astronomy, philosophy, psychology, theosophy and transcendentalism.

Like shining light on a prism, new and recent works by participating artists reveal the vast spectrum of alchemy’s contributions throughout time. The process of chrysopoeia is mirrored in works that transform everyday images, objects and materials into proverbial “gold.” Sculptures of metal and clay—created with methods that can be traced back to the Neolithic Age—convey sentiments that are wholly contemporary. Oil, water and crushed stones are manipulated into representations of (un)reality, indexes of observation and accumulations of gesture.

Together, the artists in On Alchemy embrace and uphold aesthetic innovation, material investigation and conceptual risk-taking as crucial acts of creative self-determination. By preserving the enduring spirit of this ancient tradition, we may yet find the answers that will carry us into a brighter future.