Open Sesame!

The expression originates from the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, where the protagonist opens a hidden door with the words “Open Sesame.” In the tale, the phrase functions as a command that grants access to a concealed treasure. It operates as a metaphorical key, suggesting the possibility of unlocking latent potential and engaging with the unknown.

Magic has occupied a persistent place across different forms of knowledge, from ancient practices to contemporary speculative thought. In many traditions, reality is understood as something shaped by intention, belief, and perception. More recent scientific frameworks have also challenged the idea of a fixed reality, proposing conditions in which observation plays an active role. This convergence points to a shared premise: reality is not entirely stable, and its structure can shift.

For Carl Jung, magic begins where rational understanding reaches its limit. It is not defined by illusion or spectacle, but by an engagement with what remains unresolved or opaque. In this sense, the artist operates in proximity to that space, working with elements that do not fully submit to logic. Artistic practice becomes a way of structuring and navigating complexity, where contradictions are not eliminated but sustained.

Open Sesame! brings together the work of twelve international artists, each approaching the notion of magic through distinct methodologies. These include processes rooted in material exploration, altered states, intuitive drawing, and interactions with technological systems. Across these approaches, the exhibition frames magic as a field of inquiry, where the boundaries of perception and understanding are continuously tested.