Exhibit surplus: Mark Leckey discusses his latest exhibit Enter Thru Medieval Wounds

Mark Leckey's Latest Exhibition: A Journey Through Medieval Wounds

Mark Leckey, the renowned British artist, is set to unveil his latest exhibition, "Enter Thru Medieval Wounds," at the Julia Stoschek Foundation in Mitte from September 11, 2025, through May 3, 2026.

This exhibition promises a unique blend of old and new works, drawing heavily on Leckey's fascination with medieval iconography. For Leckey, medieval images are not mere depictions, but portals to encounter a presence. He intends to induce a state, making the exhibition immersive and working on the body as well as the mind, not just an intellectual exchange, but something closer to the psychedelic.

The exhibition will feature landmark video works, including iconic pieces like his past works such as "GreenScreenRefrigerator." While specific details about the exhibition are scarce, Leckey's work is known for its transformative power, using elements from his past, such as the sodium lamps, to alter the environment and change visitors' perceptions.

One of Leckey's most notable works, 'Cinema in the Round' (2006-08), was designed to reveal a shift he sensed in the world and to see if the audience felt it too. Leckey's work often reflects experiences that confuse him profoundly and tries to find a way to share those experiences.

Leckey's upbringing in Ellesmere Port, a working-class town, and his experiences with violence and trouble with the police, made going to art school feel less extraordinary and more accessible. His work is not about creating a psychedelic experience, but rather finding things that reflect experiences he's had and trying to share those experiences.

One of Leckey's most celebrated works, 'Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore' (1999), was initially uncertain about its reception but has since been shown more than ever and is considered to capture a moment of transformation from analogue to digital. Leckey believes that this work, with its supernatural spirit or charge, resonates with audiences, attributing this to the emotions he poured into the work during its creation.

As visitors enter the exhibition, they go through a corridor lit by sodium lamps, meant to signal a shift and make them feel like they're crossing into something. The exhibition includes work going all the way back to 1999.

Leckey believes that art still offers an embodied experience and a gathering of bodies in a ritualized space, which cannot be fully replicated online. He also believes that images have undergone an ontological shift, and it's a strange time to be an artist because the power of an image doesn't sit in the image itself anymore, it's about circulation.

Art school was financially viable for Leckey due to a full grant and housing benefit, but the high tuition fees now make it harder for people from working-class backgrounds to attend. Despite this, Leckey continues to push boundaries and challenge perceptions, offering a unique and immersive experience to his audience.