«Still Leben» by ATAK e «Oltremondi» by DEM. A double exhibition

Greeting visitors to their joint exhibition are two “Watchdogs,” specially created for DIG 2025 under the title Targets. Painted in striking shades of red, DEM’s “Watchdog” takes the elegant form of the canis Laconicus—literally the Spartan dog—an extinct breed once prized in Greece and later in ancient Rome for its exceptional hunting skills. ATAK, instead, playfully envisions his “guardian” as a comic-book superhero, ready to unleash his powers in the vibrant, American-style imagery he so deeply admires.

For ATAK, one of Berlin’s most celebrated illustrators, this marks a welcome return to Modena, where he first exhibited back in 2007 at gallery D406. This time he presents Still Leben, a series of recent works dedicated to the musicians who have shaped his creative journey—from his East German beginnings to the present day. Drawing inspiration from the tradition of still life painting, he reinvents the classic composition with his unmistakable pop style: a collision of “low” culture (comics, Eastern European advertising graphics, vintage toys) and “high” art references from the past century. An oriental touch—an homage to Japanese culture—adds an exotic twist to these already eclectic compositions. The exhibition also includes drawings from an extended stay in Indonesia, commissioned for a best-selling series of travel books, as well as new paintings created specifically for DIG Festival and an installation of vintage toys from the artist’s own collection.

By contrast, DEM—an eclectic Lombard artist—presents a multifaceted body of work that showcases his rare versatility. His practice ranges from drawings on paper to monumental murals, from wood and ceramic sculptures to complex installations crafted from organic materials. On display are ink drawings depicting the struggle of Malay archipelago fishermen to protect their fragile ecosystems against destructive exploitation, alongside large, colorful works teeming with stylized figures in homage to the prehistoric artists of Val Camonica. Particularly striking is a “gallery” of masks, a recurring fascination in DEM’s research: from evocative iron and copper masks with mysterious, hieratic expressions, to lighter ritual and shamanic masks made of fabric, stitched together with multicolored textiles. Completing the selection are glazed ceramic sculptures with smooth, sinuous forms, and wooden pieces that recall totems and fetishes of an “alternative” contemporaneity.

The exhibition is presented in collaboration with gallery D406 and curated by Andrea Losavio. Texts on DEM by Giulia Caverni.

The show runs until October 19. During DIG Festival days: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Afterwards: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 – 7:30 p.m.