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This is a report I wrote for The UAL Postgraduate Community newsletter and blog. You can also read it directly in a slightly edited version here.
I’m a big fan of Postgraduate Community’s trips and events, I often attend when I can. This time it was Professor Rob Kesseler, UAL Chair of Art, Design & Science who was proposing to take 10 students to The Microscience Microscopy Congress 2015 in Manchester for free!! I’m studying on MA Art &Science, but my background is in art. This presented a perfect opportunity to see The Frieze Art Fair of microscopy, and an opportunity to engage with scientists and see their world.
We arrived in Manchester on Wednesday midday, July 1st on a cool air-conditioned train, which, believe me, was much appreciated, as that was the hottest day of the year! After a short walk, observing the architecture we arrived at Manchester Central. The bustle of science minds had started. The exhibition hall was filled with top new microscopy inventions and leading experts in the fields.
I wanted to just get a feel for such a place. My recent, The Rivers Project was my excuse to talk with the brainy scientists and listen to their “foreign” language. I explained why I was there and that I hoped to find a collaborator, to gain an insight to what’s hiding in a riverbed of a river I was studying at the time. When I failed to define a precise reason why I needed the microscopy to help me to progress my work, then I saw an exhibitor from France, a company called Digital Surf. You know that feeling when you can finally visualize your idea? Talking with them, ever so friendly as all the exhibitors, I knew this company might be helpful. We exchanged our business cards and now after a couple of emails, there seems to be a great chance we will collaborate on The Rivers Project with their software. But even, if this doesn’t work out, the approachable attitude of the scientists there and all the thought-provoking chats we had, individually, or the whole group of us from UAL, was definitely worth it!
Thank you for engaging with my blog, and please feel to leave any comments below the image.
Digital Surf exhibition stand at MMC 2015
I’m writing this post from a cloudy London, but my mood is instantly transformed when I think back a few weeks. It was the time of the ideal weather and the beauty I’ve experienced in one of the most buzzing and charismatic cities in Europe, Lisbon. Let’s just imagine for a while that we’re in Portugal! I’ve a gallery and an artist to introduce to you. I’m ready to return to a holiday mood, at least by looking at these Lisbon at night images…
Central Lisbon at night
Tram at night in one of the steep streets of Lisbon
St. George’s Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge) in the distance
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GALLERY/ARTIST INTRODUCTION
Arte Periferica Gallery
Gallery for today is Arte Periferica. This gallery putting on twelve exhibitions per year is situated within the Cultural Centre in Belem, where you can also find The Berardo Collection, which is a museum with an impressive art collection of world calibre. More on the museum on this link.
Arte Periferica on the right, and a walk through of the Cultural Centre Belem
Now as I got all the links out of the way, I can tell you about the exhibition and artist I found impressive in Arte Periferica. I saw Feelings and Discoveries exhibition, which was running from 08/03/2013 to 05/09/2013, displaying works by a couple of talented artists – Charles Chauderlot and Sylvain Bongard. I have a photo report of the works by Sylvain Bongard in this exhibition, as I personally made a connection with his works. Sylvain Bongard was born in Switzerland, and he is living in Portugal since 1970. He had studied in Germany and England for four years, but his love of Portugal was stronger and he returned there after his studies. His studio is near Ferragudo fishing village in Algarve, and it’s open to visitors. Seeing those spaces, it’s clear where he get’s the inspiration from. The nature! The surroundings of the studio are made into an installation itself. From a pool with fish, to patios with plants and magical atmosphere, it’s a relaxing place to be.
His sculptures are skilfully done in clay and he often submerges them in the sea, to photograph them, to bring the best shots out of them. They truly become alive in the water. He sculpts fish, birds and other animals too. When I was in Arte Periferica gallery, I could see some sand on the sculptures. I wonder if the sand was a left-over from the sculpting process or some evidence from the dives those sculpture undergone?
Sylvain Bongard sculpture in combination with pot for catching octopus
Sylvain Bongard sculpture
My favourite Sylvain Bongard sculpture
Sylvain Bongard sculpture
Sylvain Bongard sculpture
Sylvain Bongard sculpture, looking amazing in the sun
Sylvain Bongard sculptures in Arte Periferica, including some sculptures of an owl and cockerel
Sylvain Bongard, detail of a Crab sculpture
Sylvain Bongard sculpture in the front and Charles Chauderlot drawings on the wall in Arte Periferica
Thanks for reading my post, I hope you’ve enjoyed my selection!
I welcome your suggestions and comments, as always. If you think I’d like your gallery, your artists or your works of art and you’d like to be featured on my blog, do let me know. I’m looking forward to it. Until next time, good bye!
We’re in Slovakia. In my last post I talked about The Spis Artists’ Gallery. This time I’m introducing another gallery of the Spis Region, one which celebrated a hundred-year-anniversary of its building in 2012. The Tatra Gallery also called in Slovak – Elektráreň Tatranskej galérie is in POPRAD, the town where I was born and had lived for 18 years before moving to London. The Tatra Gallery is set in an iconic building of a former steam power station and it is putting on events and exhibitions since 1992. I found out that my great grandfather had worked in the power station back in the day, when it was producing the electricity for the surrounding areas! I find it fascinating!
Tatra Gallery in Poprad-2013 ©Silvia Krupinska
The Tatra Gallery in Poprad has a permanent exposition, and at the same time it’s putting on a number of exhibitions and events each year, for example Daniel Libeskind – Architekture is a Language, 14. 12. – 3. 3. 2013… Today, I have a photo report and a short video report from the show I visited this summer – The Spiritual Message of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the Art of the Andrej Rudavsky Family. But first …
My first serious encounter with art in The Tatra Gallery was in 1996, where under direction of my Professor, akad. mal. Zuzana Dallosova Strapkova, we’ve put on an exhibition during The Games with Art (Hry s umenim) 1996. I remember this event so vividly and I appreciate how important and rewarding it was for us, young artists from ZUS, at the time! The building of the gallery hadn’t been restored then, and it was in deed an exciting place to be at the age of 16! The Games with Art project takes place each year in The Tatra Gallery in Poprad since 1995.
Finally the promised images and a short silent video with my best-loved moments from The Spiritual Message of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the Art of the Andrej Rudavsky Family, which opened on June 27 (until Sept. 9, 2013). I didn’t know what to expect, the long and serious sounding title scared me and made me think it will be a very classic and not so contemporary show. I was pleasantly surprised! There is lots of sculpture, painting and media works in the show I can relate to, and I hope you’ll find them pleasing too.
Tatranská galéria v Poprade
Address: Hviezdoslavova 12, 058 01 Poprad, Slovakia
GPS: 49.058197 20.298105,
website currently only in Slovak language: http://www.tatragaleria.sk/
e-mail: tatragaleria@tatragaleria.sk
tel.: 052 7721 968, m: 0917 843 187
On the image above is highlighted the region where I was born. Slovakia has a huge significance to me, as I lived there for the first eighteen years of my life. Interestingly, I’ve spent all my adult life in the UK. Being a visual artist, I’ve been exhibiting here, mostly in London, and I’ve been lucky enough to show my work abroad as well. However, not once since I’d moved to London, I’d shown in Slovakia! This puzzles me and I decided to make this right and interact more with the Slovak Galleries and my homeland artists. The next two or three blog posts will be introducing exactly those galleries from my region that I’m talking with. There is the potential to exhibit in them, as well as to take part in the international symposiums, and I’m excited about these prospects. Not forgetting to mention supportive and lovely Live Pozitive Organization about which I’ll dedicate the whole blog post NO.3 of this series.
The Spiš Artists’ Gallery, Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia
The first gallery is The Spis Artists’ Gallery (Galéria umelcov Spiša), one of the youngest collecting institutions in the region, but also in Slovakia (25 years old). Its breathtaking Renaissance architecture with three-dimensional division with cross and barrel vaults with well-preserved details of arcades, columns, cornices and beams will blow your mind away. The current and permanent exhibitions aren’t dominated by the surroundings, quite the contrary, they work together in harmony. There is an outdoor space with The Garden of Art too. The exposition activity of the gallery maps and presents mainly the artists with relations to the Spis Region (see map on top), but it also touches Slovak Visual Art and not in a small amount it presents the work of foreign artists.
Amongst others, I loved the current exhibition SACRAL ELEMENTUM II, which consists of two parts – IKONY (ICONS) / original historical icons from collections of Zemplin Museum. This part was curated by Mgr. Dana Barnová and SAKRÁLNE V SÚČASNOM VÝTVARNOM UMENÍ (SACRAL IN CONTEMPORARY ART) including artists Katarína Balúnová – Andrea Čepiššáková – Michaela Knížová – Matúš Lányi – Martin Mlynarič – Dorota Sadovská – Monika Stacho – Viktória Šoltisová – Ján Vasilko – Eva Tkáčiková was curated by Lucia Benická, Kamila Paceková. Artists Michaela Knížová and Matúš Lányi caught my attention, I bring you a few photos of their works and a video by Michaela Knížová.
Matúš Lányi, IHS, 2012. Oil on canvas
Michaela Knížová, still from video performance Sv. Agata, 2010, which you can watch below.
Michaela Knížová, Photographic Installation accompanying video and performance Sv. Agata,
While visiting the gallery, I’ve had a chance to discover three permanent exhibitions. Two of them indoors – JOZEF HANULA’s drawings and paintings and the recently installed TERRA GOTHICA (Gotická cesta) – and the remaining outdoor exposition which opened in 2002, THE GARDEN OF ART, full of magnificent sculptures! A quick example of an outdoor installation I saw there is a piece by Miroslav Broos, ‘Darovanie zeme, 2013’ (free translation Earthly Gift). This is a process-based work which contains bulbs of soil collected in different locations, and those are then left to open up and disintegrate to dust. I love this process and look what was left for me to see when I visited (image. 2)! It’s nearly all turned to mud!
1. Miroslav BrooŠ, ‘Darovanie zeme, 2013‘ at the beginning of the process. Photo: GUS Facebook
2. Miroslav BrooŠ, ‘Darovanie zeme, 2013‘, ‘Earthly Gift’ 2013 (free translation), few months later…late July 2013.
And finally, I bring you to the last sculpture of this blog post. I was intrigued by Amálka Ľudmila Valenčíková‘s, piece Infiltration of Inner Space (Prenikanie vnutorneho priestoru) 2006, which is situated in THE GARDEN OF ART.
Amalka Ludmila Valencikova, Infiltration of Inner Space detail, Prenikanie vnutorneho priestoru, detail, 2006
Amalka Ludmila Valencikova, Infiltration of Inner Space, Prenikanie vnutorneho priestoru 2006
I’d asked the artist three very short questions in an email interview and this is what Amálka Ľudmila Valenčíková said:
SK Q: What are you focusing on now in your works, what changed since 2006, the year when you participated in the sculptural symposium in Spis Artists’ Gallery in Spisska Nova Ves and you produced the sculpture ‘Infiltration of Inner Space’ (Prenikanie vnutorneho priestoru)?
ALV A: Since then a lot has changed. I’m more focused on creations that are less demanding on space. I still like making installations and I’m drawn to organic shapes but with more intimate resonance and feeling. The new topics of femininity are present. For example in my solo exhibition in Spis Artists’ Gallery in 2011, ‘Zbieram krajky, čipky, zn. aj poškodené prineste do galérie.'(I’m collecting varied lace, even damaged, please bring to the gallery) I introduced some interactive elements in my work too. (Photo below)
Amalka Ludmila Valencikova, Interi(nn)er 01, 2011
SK Q: What project are you currently working on?
ALV A: I’m happily busy working on my relationship with my baby daughter; I’m on maternity leave, so most of my time is taken. However, this is very inspiring!
SK Q: As a sculptor, what materials do you prefer?
ALV A: I like natural materials. But what really interests me about them is their combination with other matter, often ready-made. For example silicon, epoxy, textile, plastic and others…and I mustn’t forget to mention lace too as a prime material combined with mirrors, paint, gold leaf, other metal objects, stones and other.
So that was the quick email interview with Amalka Ludmila Valencikova. Next time I’m in Slovakia, I’m going to bring you more in depth interviews with one, or more of these talented artists. I’ll keep you updated on any progress I’ll have in talks with the gallery and this brings me in a way to a natural end of the post. I hope you enjoyed this brief insight of my personal recommendations. Do visit Slovakia, the Spis Region and the gallery itself to have a look. I would love your comments and any recommendations you might have. As always, you can leave those in the ‘comment’ box or on twitter, and also on Facebook. In the next post, I’ll be introducing a gallery in my birth town, Poprad, Tatra Gallery Elektraren. See you then.
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Zimná 46
SK – 052 01 Spišská Nová Ves
tel.: +421 53 4464710, sekretariat@gus.sk, director: riaditel@gus.sk, Facebook: GUS Galeria umelcov Spisa
Tickets and opening hours:
Tuesday – Friday 8.30 – 16.30, Saturday: 9.00 – 13.00
Admission (gallery offers 5 individual exhibiting spaces):
Adults: € 1 / 1 exhibition; € 2,50 / all 5 galleries
Children, students, others: € 0,50 / 1 exhibition; € 1,50 / all 5 galleries
Family ticket: € 2,50 / 1 exhibition; € 5,50 / all 5 galleries
Video and photo upon agreement: € 2 / person
I simply must tell you about a quite extraordinary exhibition that is taking place until Sunday, July 14, 2013 in Norlington Art Studios in Leyton, London. Over 100 UK’s most influential artists have produced art inspired by childhood memories, toys and other nostalgic themes of all passed years – MEMORABILIA. Why is this exhibition taking place? Well, for a very good reason. One of the organizers, artist Carne Griffiths and Claire Griffiths explained on the Memorabilia’s official website.
“Last year we were told our beautiful daughter had a condition known as Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, we were told she had a 50% survival chance at birth, Thanks to the amazing care of Great Ormond Street Hospital, she is now 9 months old, just come off her feeding tube and is getting stronger every day. This exhibition is our way of saying thank you to the people that saved her life, and to the resources that we were fortunate enough to have access to.”
A minimum of 30%-100% of the work for sale in this show will go to GOSH.
The opening party was full of people. The quality of the artwork, curation and over all impression of the event was quite special. I can only say, go and have a look for yourselves! But don’t worry if you’re busy… you can check out the online store, which is growing each day with more artists and art added and I’ve some images from the night to show you too. I bought a small piece by scabbage.com ‘Bright Eyes’ which I’m loving! There is something for everyone.
Memorabilia Charity Art Exhibition is part of Leytonstone Arts Trial.
Open from 6th- 14th July at Norlington Road Studios, E10 6LA . Opening times 2-5pm. (map)
All the artworks viewed in following images, their details and artists names can be found on Memorabilia’s online store. If there aren’t yet, I believe they will be added soon! Thank you.
I’m happy to exhibit a small plaster and glass marbles sculpture in Memorabilia ‘Lost Marbles’, which I’d made for this event. It will be available online soon!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. As always, do comment and let me know what you thought about the exhibition, if you can support the event. We all would be ever so grateful! Thank you!
In May 2012 I was a guest on a TV show ‘Culture Vultures’ on Sky channel 199 OH TV. Click on the link to read a post about it. What I didn’t know, that one day I’d record art reviews for the same show! So It happened to my delight back in December and January/February this year. I had recorded 19 of Artists’ reviews. There were 19 artists works I chose to share on the TV screens with you. I prefer to call them more introductions than reviews, as I share my most loved artists and artworks around me and bring those to your attention. I love doing that! There are little better things than talking about a loved piece of art, or an artist you admire. And most of all, people don’t want to listen, if one talks about herself/himself all the time! Try it. Promote your artists friends, or if you’re in an another profession, praise your colleagues’ work, and you’ll feel so good! Speaking from my own experience! I’d recommend it to anyone.
left:Culture Vultures presenter Rosemary Laryea, book reviewer Gill Fisher and sculptor and art reviewer Silvia Krupinska
More about ‘Culture Vultures’. 
Culture Vultures is a panel discussion and review show (3o min long) presented by Jazz FM radio personality Rosemary Laryea. Each week, special panel guests pick apart and review new films, music, books, classical art, plays and other trends emerging from the world of Arts and Culture. The guests on ‘Culture Vultures’ will include critics, authors, designers, film-makers and writers, each with their own eclectic styles and tastes, led by Rosemary. The second season of Culture Vultures welcomed me as part of the reviewing team (Sculptor and Art Reviewer Silvia Krupinska) and Book Critic Gill Fisher. We joined Rosemary on set alongside a special guest, who tells exciting stories from whatever creative industry they come from. Then, both Gill and I in each episode have done our reviews. Gill book reviews and me art reviews. Unfortunately the second season of ‘Culture Vultures’ had already ended. I talked about five artists and their works. They were Jason DeCaires Taylor, Shan Hur, Nicola Anthony, Carne Griffiths and Sam Shendi. You can read Nicola’s post on her website about it here. If you missed those you can look out for Season 3, which is fast approaching in April (my reviews start again on Monday 29th at 2 pm with review of art by Anne Bevan). It will also be jam-packed with an eclectic bunch of special guests such as Delia Barker, Co-Director of the English National Ballet School; Nana Afua Twi, Britain’s Top Model of Colour winner; Eryka Freemantle, celebrity make-up artist and the multi-talented musician Lonyo Englele. Thank you so much to make-up artist Juliet Onyeka Osodi (@onyekaBeauty) who had done the make up for us all!
left, presenter Rosemary Laryea, musician Ciyu Brown, Gill Fisher book reviews and Silvia Krupinska art reviews.
Schedule of my art reviews as it’s been given to me follows. Please note changes might occur without any notice. You can click on the artists to explore their websites. Do let me know if you watch it and tweet about it with #CultureVultures tag, you can follow me @silviakrupinska and @OHTV if you like too! Thanks for your visit come again and enjoy the sun. Happy Friday!
(Since first writing this post, in fact the order of the shows has been mixed up. I have no control of this matter and to ensure to see the desired show, watch each week I guess. Sorry for any inconvenience.)
| ANNE BEVAN | (29th April 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| AGNETHA SJOGREN | 6th May 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| JONNY BRIGGS | 13th May 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| ABIGAIL BOX | 20th May 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| BEN LEVY | 27th May 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| TOMAS LIBERTINY | 3rd June 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| ROGER HIORNS | (10th June 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| KATE MCCGWIRE | 17th June 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| JOANNA ROSE TIDEY | 24th June 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| KATIE PATERSON | 1st July 2013 at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| ANNA BARLOW | 8th July at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| CAROLINE JANE HARRIS | (Monday 15th July at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| JOHN BUNKER | Monday 22nd July at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
| JONATHAN GABB | Monday 29th July at 2.00pm + same time repeats for the rest of that week. |
Monthly series of Silvia Krupinska’s Artist of the Month continues with a sculptural-painterly number. Following my December article about painter John Bunker, I’ve Jonathan Gabb here for you in January’s edition. Gabb makes large installations of colourful-waterfall-like acrylic strands, which are hand cut with Stanley knife. He is pushing the boundaries of two disciplines, painting and sculpture together, and furthering both at the same time! I found his works at Wilson Williams Gallery in Hatton Garden, London, where I saw his System exhibition. This show was a culmination of his 3-month residency in the gallery after winning their Solo Award in 2012.
Jonathan Gabb, Prime Titanium 4
I consider Gabb to be a true artist with passion for the paint and making process. His fresh approach is brave, with incredible honesty. He isn’t afraid to reveal how his works are constructed, even leaving the remaining frame of the acrylic sheet on show, which the strands are attached to and cut from. That makes the works complete, in my opinion. Words like cast, PVA, knot, cut, frame, out of the tube, ready made, sensual, fluid, theatrical, peeling, plastic sheet and many more are closely associated with his creative ‘system’. He titles finished pieces in a cold manner – titanium 4, deep gum 8 – not taking away the importance of the medium, itself.
I’ve talked to Jonathan Gabb about his work in WW Gallery, find out more if you are curious in this short video.
Thanks for having a look and reading today’s post, come back again, comment, give suggestions and if you find a cool interesting artists, let me know.
Send your emails to: newartist@silviakrupinska.com
My favourite art fair is happening this week and I couldn’t resist to choose my top 8 artworks (5 wasn’t enough) and share those with you! This choice of artworks reflects my personal taste and I wasn’t influenced by the galleries or other hidden agenda, but simply they caught my eye and I wanted to celebrate them in no particular order. I hope you’ll enjoy my selection, as always do leave your comments or suggestions at the end of the post. I’ve linked up all the artists and the galleries to their websites, feel free to click on! Enjoy the snow in London!
1. Jack Milroy, The Liquid Beauty of the Sky, 2010_2012, detail, Art First.
Jack Milroy, The Liquid Beauty of the Sky, 2010-2012, detail, Art First.
Jack Milroy, The Liquid Bauty of the Sky, 2010-2012, Art First.
2. Anna Barlow – Cushion Food 2_rear view, Bicha Gallery.
©Anna Barlow – Cushion Food 2, rear view. Image courtesy of the artist and Bicha Gallery.
3. Helen Maurer, Eclipsed by the Boy, 2011, Danielle Arnaud.
Helen Maurer, Eclipsed by the Boy, 2011, Danielle Arnaud Gallery.
4. Brendan Jamison ARBS, 10 Downing Street II, 2012, Four Square Fine Art.
Brendan Jamison ARBS, 10 Downing Street II, 2012, Four Square Fine Art.
5. Sarah Tew, Standing Course, 2012, La Scatola Gallery.
Sarah Tew, Standing Course, 2012, La Scatola Gallery.
6. Anna Gilespie, Tumble, Beaux Arts Bath.
Anna Gilespie, Tumble, Beaux Arts Bath.
7. Polly Gould, Berg off Cape Evans, 2012, Daniell Arnaud.
Polly Gould, Berg off Cape Evans, 2012, Daniell Arnaud.
8. Stephanie Carlton Smith, Pity Me English Oak Jan 2013, 2013, Beaux Arts London.
Stephanie Carlton Smith, Pity Me English Oak Jan 2013, 2013, Beaux Arts London.
I’m coming back with my monthly reviews of artists! If you are used to listening to the radio slot “Silvia Krupinska’s Artist of the Month” on Colourful radio, there is an alteration. From December 2012, I’m instead of the radio slot doing my new series of video art reviews, talking with artists with my camera and bringing you the visuals from their art studios, galleries or similar locations. On top of that, starting from January 2013, you can follow my new platform, where I’m introducing artists on OHTV in ‘Culture Vultures’. I’ve behind my first 11 TV reviews, which were filmed in last couple of weeks (Dec 2012). It has been a learning curve for me, and I hope I can continue later on with even more introductions of artist for the TV.
Painting in progress by John Bunker at Unit3 Gallery in December 2012.
But for now, be my guest and let me introduce to you a painter, artist and curator, John Bunker. I picked him due to his strong painterly language. His colourful paintings are layered with texture and artistic freedom. He uses sharp angles and energetic contrasting materials he finds around us in unpredictable places. It makes sense to me the way he sticks and lays the vivid and balanced surfaces together. Artist that speaks for him self, as strongly as his works! Great contestant for today’s edition!
I was acquainted to his paintings in ASC UNIT3 Gallery in Empson Street, E3 3LT in May 2012. John had put on a show called ‘Sunburst in the City of Shadows’ which extended to his studio just upstairs, as the gallery is part of a large studio complex of many artists. To mention a few talents there, painter Abigail Box, Jennifer Farmer, Samuel Overington, Rachel Gornall, Pamela Carr, Marsha Dunstan and many others base their creative hub there. Back to John, as I really enjoyed the show, I followed Bunker’s work and in November 2012 I visited his solo show titled ‘Vital Signs’ at Half Moon Gallery, part of the Half Moon Young’s People Theatre. The show is on from November 2012 to January 2013. I bring you the slide show below with some images from the private view.
I visit UNIT3 again, this time John Bunker is using the space for his project. He is making some large scale paintings. You can watch this 9 min video, as John explains how he constructs his art and I ask him questions about his inspirations and creative processes.
Painter John Bunker at Unit3 Gallery, December 2012
Thanks for having a look and reading today’s post, come back again, comment, give suggestions and if you find a cool interesting artists, let me know and I’ll always have a look at their work. You never know, they might appear here or in one of my TV reviews!
Send your emails to: newartist@silviakrupinska.com
UNIT3 links: UNIT3 Gallery – https://www.facebook.com/Unit3Gallery
UNIT3 exhibitions on Art Rabbit – http://www.artrabbit.com/uk/venues/programme&venue=3720
It’s coming to the end of the year, and I can’t believe it’s going so fast! I’ve decided to do a yearly post of my channel’s most viewed videos. here the list comes, enjoy…
1. Silvia Krupinska talking to artist Carne Griffiths at Debut Contemporary, 25.2.12.
2. Silvia Krupinska in ‘Czechin’ London’ documentary film (SK), 2010
3. Textures of Salt and Oil paintings, Homage to Lichens series, 2012.
4. Salt oil painting experiments in my studio, part I.
5. Silvia Krupinska talking to artist Rosie Emerson at The Other Art Fair 2011.
I’d like to say a big thank you to Rosie Emerson and Carne Griffiths! Thanks to you all for your ongoing support and I’m looking forward to making more artists’ interviews!
I’ve an enormous pleasure to introduce to you this month’s Artist of the Month, Slovakian-born, Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny. I came across his work at the Exhibition Road Show in London this month. He’d exhibited his charismatic architectural sculpture, The Agreement, which like many of his other pieces, was produced with help of bees. This high profile event was full of arty big numbers and pop-up performances. Read more about The Exhibition Road Show here.
When I talked to Libertíny about his work, what struck me was the extend of his ideas in his art. The energy of his pieces isn’t just floating on top for me, I feel there is all rounded in-depth elemental balance present. The strong concept, experimental and skilful laborious qualities, manifest themselves in the objects with an aura of originality and respect. You guest right! I’m keen on his work, hence he’s my Artist of the Month!
Tomáš Libertíny next to his work The Agreement. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Libertíny was born in Slovakia in 1979. In 1999, he enrolled in the Industrial Design Department at the Technical University in Slovakia. In 2001, he was awarded George Soros’s Open Society Institute Scholarship to study at The University of Washington in Seattle, where he explored painting and sculpture. Shortly afterwards, he continued his study at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava in painting and conceptual design. Libertiny received his MFA in 2006 Design Academy Eindhoven. In fall of 2007, he found his studio in Rotterdam where he is focused on exploring design strategies in art and science. In 2009 he was awarded The Designer of The Future during Art Basel. His works have recently been acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen and Cincinatti Art Museum. Libertíny is also a frequent speaker at conferences and a visiting lecturer. (source: http://www.tomaslibertiny.com )
Tomáš Libertíny, The Agreement. Photo courtesy of the artist.
The Agreement is a fusion of artist’s planned and precise architectural structure with the several elements from the world of nature, where the main part play thousands of bees. Made in some stages, the bees and their queen had settled and lived on the structure, building what they know best, the honey-comb. This living piece was absolutely amazing to walk around for me, at The Exhibition Road Show. I felt like I was watching a theatrical performance behind the glass. I also appreciated that the well-being of the bees was considered. They had the choice to stay or go, leaving the structure through a hole, and other features included the air-conditioning of the unit. That way, the piece hadn’t become destructive, but quite the contrary. I know that this unique collaboration with bees didn’t come by chance. I discussed it with the author, and quite clearly he had became an expert not only in art, architecture and design elements but also in bee-behaviour and their pre-given, instinctive actions for survival and life creation.
Tomáš Libertíny, The Paper Vase, 2007
Paper, Woodglue, 30 x 25 x 25 cm. Photo courtesy of the artist.
It’s another example of Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny’s work. It is made by layering square sheets of paper with wood-glue and pressing those into a something looking like a paper brick, thick paper square. The thick paper-wood-glue square object is attached into a spinning wood-turning machine, and it spins it very fast. It is shaped, shaved and filed into a vase, with help of chisels, sand paper… Very important thing is that each sheet has a print of a tree on it. As the shaving of the paper come down, reducing the thickness in some places, the pixels of the trees on the papers become exposed, and they create the decoration. The decoration is exposed on the exterior and embedded in the interior on each sheet, symbol of the deeper inner meaning. The act of repetition of elements, repetition of tasks and manipulation of the material creates a meaningful elegant and sensual object. The artist told me, that this is a symbol of spiritual and philosophical element in his work. Time consuming, labouring process of making of the object helps to create a relationship with the maker, observer…
I see the full circle of a tree in all the stages of the transformation, and in the final result. In my research about Libertíny, I came across this phrase, defining his work and studio: ” Intellectual investigations – elegant presentations.” I couldn’t agree more, looking at The Paper Vase!
I’ll be introducing Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny’s work live in my slot Artist of the Month on Thursday, 23rd August at 12.10, featured as a part of Rosemary Laryea‘s Art and Culture Show on Colourful Radio. Amongst other things, I’ll describe another Libertíny’s piece The Vessel #1, which I saw in FUMI gallery in London. Join us here on this link, or listen to it here later, as a recording. Thanks.
Tomáš Libertíny, The Vessel #1, 2011
beeswax, glass, alumnium, 86 x 86 x 86 cm (cabinet), 50 x 35 x 35 cm (vessel),
Photo René Spitz.
Useful websites –
- Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny: http://www.tomaslibertiny.com/
- Exhibition Road Show : http://exhibitionroadshow.co.uk/home
- Gallery FUMI : http://www.galleryfumi.com/
- FAD art fast news: http://www.fadwebsite.com/
Kitchen at ArtHAUS, DegreeArt, 2012, 07
I visited one of those shows, which makes you think about the set up of a gallery, curating of the artworks and at the same time, is so inviting that I felt like staying for a while just sitting on one of the sofas or at the kitchen table enjoying the art.
Unique ArtHAUS is an exhibition at London’s Vyner Street by DegreeArt, in their Execution Room. It is running from May 3rd – June 30th 2012. Curated By: DegreeArt & Ryan Lanji, who talk to me on camera during my exploration of the space (watch at the end of the post). Designed By: DegreeArt, James Fuller, Karen Storey, Ryan Lanji.
This exhibition shows works by 25 artists and other collaborators, I’ll mention a few that really stood out for me. In the kitchen, I was impressed by Louise McNaught’s paintings on food packaging as well as Jana Emburey’s egg shell sculpture. In bedroom I had a close look at the works by Yuki Aruga and Chantall Powels’ wall pieces. Living room intrigued me with the wall painting installation and quirky objects by Darren Macpherson and Nicola Anthony’s sliced bank notes caught my eye too. Not forgetting the dining room and GonnyVan Hulst’s sheep heads set as meals on the table, and another wall painting installation by Tahnee Lonsdale. My favourite room was, maybe unexpended for you, the bathroom! The pieces by Janina Holloway, Myung Nam An and Claire Jackson made my day.
See for yourself how it makes you feel in the video or even better, visit the space and create your own art house in your castle.
For more information about ArtHAUS or DegreeArt visit the website http://www.degreeart.com/events/arthaus.
Thanks for reading!
I’m happy to have seen an exhibition of some leading Slovak artists from 1960-2000. The works by them have shaped the happening of the Slovak Art Scene to this day, including myself. I’m talking about exhibition – Independent Scene. A Segment of Slovak Visual Art 1960-2000 in the Embassy of Slovak Republic in London. I’d introduced this show to you prior to the private view, in this post. If you are interested in the Slovak Art and European Art in general, and this crucial creative period of 1960-1989, it’s a must see for you!
The exhibition is curated by Zuzana Bartošová, research worker at the Institute of Art History, Slovak Academy of Sciences. Henry Meyric Hughes, Honorary President of International Association of Art Critics (AICA) Paris, opened the event with this speech. The works presented in the exhibition come from the First Slovak Investment Group’s collection (Bratislava, Slovakia).
Here is an extract of the speech by Mr. Hughes. I’ve learnt so much by listening to it over and over again:
“What you see here in this space is the crème de la crème and very carefully chosen work by Zuzana Bartosova, a step ahead of the works perhaps in the Slovak National Gallery Collection.”
“ Jankovič piece, The Movable Hands are moving, waving in unison. That in a sense sets the scene to the way that artists have responded, artists who are outside the official system, right up to 1989. They maintained their own independence and contacts with artist in surrounding countries, and responded to ideas in the outside world. Most of those artists were almost working in isolation. But, almost all of these works here are kind of the key works of the individual artists concerned. In sense, there was a double divorce, if you were living in Bratislava. There was a divorce from centralized part, artistic patronage provided by Prague (which was a dominant partner in this federated republic) and of course there was a divorce from the west. The isolation in Bratislava really was the fertile element, artists were left to their own devices, maybe they were followed a bit by the security police, but on the whole they could do what they wanted, provided they didn’t put their heads up above the parapet. I think, this is the essential message you are getting from this exhibition. All those artists and their work up to 1989 have formed the basis of the Slovak Art.”
Participating artists:
Milan Adamčiak (*1946), Peter Bartoš (*1938), Juraj Bartusz (*1933), Mária Bartuszová (1936 – 1996), Pavol Binder (1935 – 2009), Milan Bočkay (*1946),Klára Bočkayová (*1948), Ivan Csudai (*1959), Ladislav Čarný (*1949), Marián Čunderlík (1926 – 1983), Milan Dobeš (*1929), Ľubomír Ďurček (*1948), Rudolf Fila (*1932), Stanislav Filko (*1937), Daniel Fischer (*1950), Vladimír Havrilla(*1943), Jozef Jankovič (*1937) Igor Kalný (1957 – 1987), Michal Kern (1938 – 1994), Alojz Klimo (1922 – 2000), Martin Knut (*1964), Július Koller (1939 – 2007), Vladimír Kordoš (*1945), Patrik Kovačovský (*1970), Juraj Meliš(*1942), Igor Peter Meluzin (*1947), Marián Meško (*1945), Anastázia Miertušová (1927 – 2002), Igor Minárik (*1948), Alex Mlynárčik (*1934), Marián Mudroch (*1945), Ilona Németh (*1963), Milan Paštéka (1931 – 1998), Karol Pichler (*1957), Vladimír Popovič (*1939), Rudolf Sikora (*1946), Ivan Štěpán (1937 – 1986), Laco Teren (*1960), Dezider Tóth (*1947), Rudolf Uher (1913 – 1987), Miloš Urbásek (1932 – 1988), Jana Želibská (*1941)
You can see my video invitation and a small tour around the space of The Embassy Of Slovak Republic, where the show is held:
And finally a wide selection of photos from the exhibition. Thanks for reading my post. Contact me, if you have any questions.
7 March – 10 April 2012
Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY
Opening hours from 9 am to 4 pm
For security reasons, please contact the Embassy before your visit.
Tel: 02073136470, e-mail: emb.london@mzv.sk
Olympia Scarry, The Bubble Wrap Painting, 2012, detail
I couldn’t miss the opening of new Mayfair gallery, Gazelli Art House this week. The fabulous space on two levels has revealed exhibition called Bodhi, the last of the open-ended series of exhibitions exploring different natural elements. The previous four shows were: Fired Up, Down to Earth, Still and Sparkling and Air I Breathe. Touching on the topic of spiritual enlightenment through the means of contemporary art, the show brings to the forefront four diverse artists – Jaume Plensa, Khanlar Gasimov, Olympia Scarry and Shan Hur. I found the exhibition very inspiring and very well presented. Every little detail was thought through. I personally enjoyed most the works by Olympia Scarry, her Bubble Wrap Painting and Mammalia and Shan Hur’s Broken Pillar, however the remaining artists didn’t stay behind.
Olympia Scarry is a Swiss artist, who lives and works in New York. Scarry’s discipline in Psychology is a driving force in her works as with her new body of work which focuses on the examination of reality and the self. Scarry captures actions and reactions to moments of frustration and boredom and turns them into something tangible as in the marble “Bubble Wrap Painting”. Often Scarry’s objects frustrate our expectations by rendering habitual urges impossible or by glorifying an involuntary response such as a boring “Yawn”. In creating environments and records of the human touch, Scarry voluntarily allows forms to overpower physiology.
Olympia Scarry, Mammalia, 2012, 01
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Olympia Scarry, The Bubble Wrap Painting, 2012, 01
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Olympia Scarry, Saliva, 2011
Jaume Plensa – is a world-renowned artist from Barcelona who is also the current artist in residence at The Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Plensa has created numerous public works around the world, including the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, Chicago. He unveiled his most recent public sculpture Echo presented in Madison Square Park, New York City in May 2011. He has had solo exhibitions at the Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas; Musée Picasso, Antibes; Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid; Galerie National du Jeu de Paume, Paris; and the Arts Club of Chicago, among many others. He lives and works in Barcelona. For Gazelli Art House’s opening show, Plensa will present his light and ‘verbal’ sculpture, Overflow, where stainless steel letters are soldered together to create the figure of a sitting man. Additionally, a selection of Plensa’s mixed media drawings on paper will be also showcased.
Jaume Plensa, Overflow I, 2007, 01
Khanlar Gasimov – is an Azerbaijani artist who lives and works in Connecticut, USA. Despite this geographical distance, the essence of Gasimov’s art still lies in his roots. He finds particular inspiration in Azerbaijani poetry. His poetic-recited canvases – last on show at the 54th Venice Biennale as part of the Azerbaijani Pavilion – demonstrate a philosophical approach to the physical form of art. At Gazelli Art House, Gasimov will also exhibit his acclaimed sculpture The Most Honourable – an umbrella that is fashioned from silicone to simulate human skin. The work symbolically illustrates a type of a shield whilst the human nature of the object transforms the idea of this protective everyday object to a being, which is exposed to its surroundings.
Khanlar Gasimov, Walking in Eight Bodies Simultaneosly, shape of a poet collar cut in copper, 2012
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Khanlar Gasimov, Gift Wrap (Anthem), 2012, 01
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Khanlar Gasimov, All Happens in Your Presence, 2012, 01
Shan Hur – is a Korean artist who lives and works in London. In the beginning one assumes Shan’s work is part of the gallery setting but viewer’s perceptions are challenged the closer they examine it. The ideas, which inform Hur’s practice, derive from a fascination in the moment of transition when a particular space is reconfigured for a new purpose. Constant doubt and questioning of our perceptions is crucial to developing the enlightened self.
Shan Hur, Broken Pillar, 2012 01
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Shan Hur, Broken Pillar, 2012 02
The atmosphere of the show on the opening night was fantastic and the house was full. Bodhi is open till April 19th 2012. I recommend you see the show, especially if you are into organic sculpture and natural elements in art and experimentation.
You find Gazelli Art House at 39 DOVER STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON, W1.
The exhibition season is picking up nicely this coming week. I’m very excited about two events in particular. London Art Fair will start from 18-22 January 2012, with a preview evening on 17th. It is always refreshing to see the variety and talent London Art Fair has to offer. I’ll be reporting more on it during or once I visit it. Here is a link to their website for tickets and more http://www.londonartfair.co.uk/
I’d like to share my excitement about the second event this coming week, which I’ll be attending. It is the exhibition called “Fly to Baku” in Phillips de Pury & Company, Howick Place, London SW1P 1BB opens on 18th January and closes on 29th January (click for the exhibition catalogue here). This amazing and unique show is presenting the Contemporary Art from Azerbaijan, featuring 21 Azeri contemporary artists, curated by Hervé Mikaeloff. I had the honour to exhibit with one of the artists presenting his work in “Fly to Baku” Mr. Mir Nadir Zeynalov. Our roads crossed in the international show in Gabala organized by the SEBA Cultural Exchange Association, which happened in December 2011. This event brought me to Baku for the first time, and admittedly I have decided to return to Azerbaijan as soon as possible. I was impressed with the culture,people’s kindness and their endless generosity. I have also discovered a museum, which is for me the best I’ve ever experienced, with no exaggeration – The Museum of Modern Art in Baku. I’m currently in a dialogue with them about our possible collaboration, however it’s early days for any details to be revealed. I have written a blog article about my experiences in Azerbaijan – “My visit to Azerbaijan” please read it if you like.
I’m pleased that exhibition “Fly to Baku” will give me another opportunity to see some Azeri Art. At least two artists, if not more are exhibiting in the Museum of Modern art in Baku as well. One of them, Altair Sadiqzadeh has his sculptures set in the building, in a form of a staircase, which is in a way heart and soul of the building. The artist where he could avoided the straight lines. See the picture below. I had the pleasure to temporarily install my From the Bottom of the Sea sculpture there, with the images below again. If you would like to hear more about both, the Museum of Modern Art, why not to follow this 15min long tour video taken by me on my visit, and about “Fly to Baku”, I’ll be updating my blog after my visit. Thanks for reading and I might see you there.
My sculpture titled From the Bottom of the Sea on a visit of the Museum of Modern Art in Baku, Dec 2011
Silvia Krupinska - Organic Contemporary Sculpture Blog 