Bathing With the Nymphs
Olivia Zubko combines our favored legends with humankind’s most sacred pillars: beauty and bathrooms.
In the world of contemporary art, classical mythology continues to captivate audiences. Despite its dark themes of trickery and violence, these ancient stories hold an enduring appeal. A prime example of this allure is the solo exhibition "Nymphaeum" by Chicago-based artist Olivia Zubko, currently on display at Western Exhibitions.
Zubko masterfully blends classic legends with timeless themes of beauty and the bathroom. Her artworks evoke a sense of intimacy that is both unsettling and intriguing. One of her notable pieces is a series of wall sculptures that function as altars to lavatories. These sculptures pay homage to historical nymphaeums, which were once monuments dedicated to water nymphs in the Hellenistic and Roman eras.
Today, the concept of nymphaeums may seem antiquated, but Zubko points out that their essence lives on in modern rituals. Just as these ancient sites were built around natural grottoes, our personal spaces, from medicine cabinets to gyms, are places where we engage in acts of beauty and cleansing.
Two standout pieces in Zubko's current exhibition are "Echo’s Basin" and "Circe". Both are made from glazed stoneware and synthetic materials, yet they carry deep symbolic meaning. These sculptures invite viewers to reflect on the intersection of ancient mythology and our daily lives, reminding us of the universal human desire to connect with water, beauty, and intimate spaces.
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