Argentine contemporary artist Leandro Erlich (b. 1973) is internationally known for his illusory works, both installation and video, capable of distorting reality, disorienting and astounding the public. For the first time in Italy, Leandro Erlich will show his works in the solo exhibition “Oltre la soglia” at Palazzo Reale in Milan, from April 22 until Oct. 4, 2023, curated by Francesco Stocchi.
Visitors will have the opportunity to live a shared experience suspended between reality and fiction, in which ordinary circumstances are evoked and twisted by the artist. Erlich himself states: “I like to develop projects that push audiences beyond the conceptual threshold, and I enjoy working with a variety of media and modes of expression. I create structures that trigger images and ideas that, in turn, point toward new realities. I like to view these pieces as relational devices that inspire interaction and play among viewers. I understand art as a means of cultivating new approaches to understanding the world-physical, mental, political, symbolic.”

The interaction of the audience thus becomes fundamental for Leandro Erlich, who considers it as a protagonist rather than a mere user. The viewer becomes the artwork itself, entering a magical dimension, “where the impossible becomes possible.” Climbing buildings, trapping a cloud in a display case, elevators that lead nowhere, videos that turn reality upside down. These are some examples of the non-realities conceived by the Argentine artist, who is exhibiting some of his most famous works, nineteen to be exact, for the Milanese occasion.

Leandro Erlich’s ability to reach a wide audience lies in the direct relationship created between the visitor and the work, who is not only involved emotionally but also intellectually. Erlich places him before an apparent everyday reality, arousing a sense of familiarity that, however, is immediately challenged. The viewer is confronted with an inexplicable phenomenon about which he questions and seeks answers. The participatory action required by the artist is fundamental to the success of the work, which finds its fulfillment only in contact with the audience. “Each work by Leandro Erlich opens a window on the sensible world, but instead of deceiving the eye it reveals the visual deceptions to which the mind can be subjected, opening up new horizons and questions.“