Light is one of the most fundamental mediators of human perception. It allows us to orient ourselves in space and to recognize shapes, materials, and the relationships between objects. At the same time, it functions as a tool for interpretation—what is illuminated takes on meaning, while other layers remain hidden. The exhibition Through Light explores this shifting boundary between the visible and the invisible, between physical reality and the ways in which perception constantly creates and transforms reality.

The work of Martin Kafes3 Hirth operates at the intersection of abstraction, materiality, and spatial experience. Through natural materials, lighting systems, digital layers, and augmented reality, she creates environments in which physical presence blends with intangible dimensions. Here, material, light, and technology do not appear as separate components, but as interconnected agents in ongoing processes of transformation.

Just as light transforms the appearance of an image, it also transforms our understanding of the world around us. The exhibition opens up space for reflection on the fragility of ecosystems, the mutability of perception, and the extent to which a shift in perspective can fundamentally influence the meaning of observed reality.

The exhibition connects works from previous years with new paintings created during the artist’s recent trip to Indonesia, establishing a dialogue between the principles that have long shaped his work and their most recent manifestations. These works reveal a continuous exploration of transformation, interconnectedness, and the invisible forces that shape our experience.

Martin Kafes33 Hirth (*1981) found his creative home in the world of graffiti during his teenage years. Its raw and inexhaustible energy completely consumed him and became a fundamental school of composition, color theory, and technique. Later, he expanded his visual thinking by studying graphic design, where he developed a fascination with clean vector lines. It is precisely the contrast between precise shapes and organic, “dirty” spray marks that has become one of the defining features of his later work.

After years of working as a freelance graphic designer, he realized that commissioned work and client demands were gradually distancing him from his true essence. Creative compromises led to burnout, but also to a fundamental realization: he needs to create freely, to experiment without restrictions, and it is precisely this freedom that he sees as the very essence of a meaningful life.

His return to authentic creation brought him back to his roots—to spray paint, acrylics, and canvas. Since then, he has devoted himself fully to painting and has developed his own visual language, which has become his most natural form of self-expression.

Last year, he showcased his work at an exhibition in Los Angeles, where he presented pieces created during his travels across the United States. In 2024, he won first place in the Art Grand Slam Awards competition in the Public Space category for his design of a basketball court for the only Czech player in the NBA, Vít Krejčí. He also received an award for the iconic “Pasta Jacket,” created for NHL star David “Pasta” Pastrňák on the occasion of the Ice Hockey World Championship held in the Czech Republic.