The exhibition brings together ceramic objects, paintings and graphic works. In these oneiric, at times surreal pieces, the artist considers what a person can do in the circumstances they find themselves in, and whether their decisions can alter the course of events. ‘The series of autumn leaves represents what lies beyond our control: autumn always comes, and the leaves wither. It refers to the tradition of vanitas still lifes. This is my attempt to live through a sense of powerlessness. I try to capture in clay the moment before the leaves turn completely to dust,’ the artist explains.
In other works, Kinder Album reflects on the duality of human experience—responsibility and escape, protection and vulnerability (as in Targets, Mountains, Tits)—and on choices that affect the individual, their loved ones and country. Eventually, however, the artist speaks of another world, neither black nor white, where control slips away: whatever decision we make, the leaves will still fall. We dream of the sea, but cannot see it at dusk—so will the dream ever come true?
‘Kinder Album’s practice has always been marked by its life-affirming spirit and playful approach to existence. Even the “documentary” pieces created at the beginning of the invasion blaze with black humour, positive masochism and, ultimately, bodily and sexual resistance to the Thanatos of war. In the works of the past year, however, the naked female figure traditionally associated with Kinder’s visual language gives way to impersonal fragments of what was once a human body—running legs, a smashed-up face, rainbow-coloured skulls. The colours and forms of the surrounding world are pushed to such a psychedelic extreme that they leave almost no room for life. Perhaps for the first time, her work contains so much despair and melancholy; yet within this confession of hopelessness flickers a conversation about the limits of responsibility—as a person, a woman and an artist. Only the flowers suspended in full bloom and the fallen autumn leaves promise that the story will continue into the next season,’ comments Maria Lanko.
We would like to thank our partners at Kiss My Apps for supporting the reconstruction of the gallery’s new space.
