Capturing the essence of suspended time, Karel Dicker (b. Schimmert, 1989) reminisces about the hues of a morning or the fragrance of an evening, transposing these memories onto the canvas. His art revolves around a spectrum ranging from fundamental human needs to cultural traditions – a crystal-clear glass of water beside succulent purple grapes, or the remnants of an aged drink fading away with ash in an ashtray.

In Dickert's perspective, his paintings encapsulate moments that endure. Beyond the confines of the canvas, outside the frame, exist individuals sipping from those glasses and inhaling the smoke from those cigarettes. Like a magnifying lens, the artwork zooms in on a specific aspect of an ordinary scenario.

Karel Dicker unveils tables adorned with an array of man-made objects – vases, mirrors, wine glasses, cigarettes, and, of course, ashtrays. These are everyday items we can't fathom living without. Conversely, devoid of our interaction, these "tools" would be mere redundant materials. An ashtray left in a field, crushed by wild bison or eroded by rivers, would seem strangely out of place, useless amidst intertwined weeds on this rotating celestial machine we call Earth.

Our existence intertwines with stories and beliefs. A satisfying dinner requires porcelain plates and fine cutlery. A candle must burn, tulips belong in a vase. Though not absolute necessities, these accessories narrate a story, much like the couple seated at that table. Dicker paints the tale unfolded at that table and the intricate dance between the objects and the people who engage with them. The objects move within the painting, a rhythmic dance etched by layers of paint, colors intertwining, and lines weaving from the initial stroke to the final flourish.