A dark and gloomy, dilapidated basement in Shoreditch, London, played host to Volcom sponsored artist, Dashenka Prochazka’s, Fear of Life is Fear of Death Art exhibition last week. An eclectic group of curious people were visually entertained and stimulated by Dashenka’s intense and captivating interpretation of the subject , and also pumped by fresh tunes and fuelled with free drinks, Red Bull and tasty chomps – all the ingredients for a good night out.

I must admit, prior to the exhibition, I wasn’t aware that Volcom was collaborating with artists and thus I was totally unaware of the terrifyingly girlie and super skilled artist, Dashenka Prochazka. After some innocent online research, I discovered that she played base in a band called Goons of Doom, which according to a website that she was part of (called Monster Children I might add) described the band’s sound as spooky art music, whatever the hell that was. I also learned she was born in the Czech Republic but grew up in Switzerland and can now be found in Australia, if she isn’t traveling the world. I checked out a bit of her work online, and was immediately drawn to its bewitching, scary, but innocently girlie charm. So I went to the exhibition interested and open minded.

When I slipped through the grungy basement doors last week, I was immediately thrown into a space, that I am positive, reflected a small yet infinite and creative part of Dashenka’s mind. The space itself was unbelievable, and gave the exhibition a personal, exploratory feel. Walking around the basement, through mazes of run down rooms, felt like you were literally travelling through Dashenka’s train of thought. Each new room brought a new experience, a new approach to the subject at hand, and a new stimuli that shocked, terrified or did both.

Her art is undeniably creepy, but she engages the subject of life and death with such gentleness in addition to her severe maddening terror, that you can’t help but feel attached to it. Like that childhood doll whose eye fell off but you hung onto her anyway. She gives death a curious, but fantastical feel – and although there were times where the glittering, toothy-grinning monsters staring down from canvasses creeped me out, or the haunting dolls lined up in a corner were whispering secrets into my ears, I still kind of got the feeling that beneath all the eeriness, she was just a little girl trying to turn her thoughts of death into a safe and pretty journey.

The exhibition was on display through a series of rooms, each room set up with immaculate care and attention to detail, lighting and space. An interesting part of her exhibition was a live performance by Les yeux sans visage and Nina noise, who played in a small space and were only visible through a small slit in a curtain covering the door.

Together with a wild light show, the band created a visual and musical experience like nothing I have seen before, but something that I want to see again. Her art combines different mediums, and she explores sculpture, painting, design and more. The night was well received by all those who came, well hosted by Volcom Europe and Cooler Magazine. Massive props to Dashenka Prochazka – undeniably one of the most creepy, inspiring and creative artists I have had the contentment of experiencing in quite some time. May her girlie horror story interpretations make their way to your heart and home in the near future.

Tags: Art, Volcom