MARGUS KONTUS DARK MATTER

Darkness is not merely a physical phenomenon – it is a part of who we are. But what is it that remains hidden, from both ourselves and others? What do we bury deep within, refusing to admit that it shapes us just as much as our visible and conscious side? With his exhibition Dark Matter at Haus Gallery, artist Margus Kontus guides us into introspection, inviting us – through a mysterious artistic world – to explore the intersection between "dark matter" and the darker side of the human self. His artistic interpretation of cosmic matter becomes a metaphorical journey into the viewer’s own inner cosmos, urging us to reflect on the parts of ourselves whose existence we often choose to ignore.

Artist Margus Kontus has stated that “dark matter, as a cosmological and physical concept, refers to a form of matter that neither emits nor reflects light and is therefore not directly visible. It constitutes a significant portion of the universe's mass and plays a crucial role in shaping the structure of the cosmos. Symbolically, dark matter can represent the unconscious aspects of our lives. For a human being, it may signify hidden fears, unspoken dreams, or themes we struggle to comprehend – perhaps simply the denial or non-acceptance of our darker side. This exhibition is inspired by the philosophical perspective on dark matter. Just as the universe is composed of dark matter, so too are humans composed of darkness – that is, of our shadow self. Unfortunately, negative emotions tend to be more uncomfortable than positive ones, making it easier to ignore them, turn away, and hope they pass. But nothing happens just like that.”

Margus Kontus (b. 1987) is an Estonian artist with a master’s degree in Contemporary Art from the Estonian Academy of Arts, where he also studied printmaking. His overall body of work can be described as meditative and experiential. He enjoys experimenting and realizing ideas through diverse media, including fire sculptures and painting. Kontus is known for his works inspired by magnetism and his distinctive magnetotype technique, where a magnetic field plays a central role in the creation of the artwork.

Text: Lola Annabel Kass, Haus Gallery's art historian