Review of Alexander Basil at Galerie Judin | Berlin Art Link

"Alexander Basil has created a cosmos. His instantly recognizable style and established color palette implicate the subject matter in a process of calm and sure scrutiny. Central to this cage is the familiar figure that reappears, on a quest through daily life. The protagonist is both the subject and object of reflection that morphs in and with his surroundings, travelling worlds beyond the room he finds himself in."

"As the title 'Error 404' suggests, (digital) screens feature prominently in the works on show at Galerie Judin. Screens are able to transport the viewer into different, image-based worlds...or maybe not? Page not found. The screen turns into a signifier, representing the possible meaning of any possible image that could possibly be generated. The screen and what it represents, the image, are integrated into the works productively."

"The body takes up a central role in Basil's work, too. But beside simply being laid bare, it is the way versions of the same body are entangled with and mediated by other components, like physical spaces and media, that is interesting. How do screens and bodies relate? In this show, they have an intimate relationship: they are literally in bed together, (de)humanizing one another. VR-worlds entertain, articles on sexual health educate."

Alexander Basil creates a visual cosmos around a recurring protagonist who journeys through everyday and virtual interiors. Screens function as portals and ambiguous signifiers, simultaneously promising transport into image-based worlds and failing with a 'Page not found' uncertainty. Text appears censored while images assert their importance. The body occupies a central, mutable role, with repeated versions intertwined with physical spaces and media. Screens and bodies form intimate, sometimes dehumanizing relationships—sharing beds, enabling VR escapism, and offering sexual-health information. The overall affect balances detachment and emotional distance rather than outright pessimism.

Read at Berlin Art Link