VOMITORIUM

Open Forum is proud to present VOMITORIUM, a solo exhibition of two new series of works by Paul Ferens. The first is a group of light boxes displaying the contents of "show fridges" — refrigerators seen in popular culture used by the wealthy to display pristine, probably organic and definitely unused food.

These light boxes are installed in contrast to a new series referencing 17th century Dutch still life paintings. Much like these historic works, created at the height of Dutch culture and economic prowess, Ferens depicts seductive cornucopias of food, decomposing and past its prime. This ostentatious display of intentionally wasted food and luxury objects, alongside the pristine see-through refrigerators appropriated from contemporary popular culture, highlights our society's spiral into the depths of consumerism and frivolity.

Does history repeat itself? Common understanding is that the vomitoriums of Ancient Rome were antechambers where the wealthy would purge during banquets in order to continue to gorge. In fact, the term refers to the exits of stadiums and theaters from which the masses would spew out onto the streets, drunk and satiated from the entertainment provided by elites. Ferens' work asks us to look at where we find ourselves within a larger historic cycle, and how we may find new ways forward.