Our fabrics – Porcelina and Renard – became a medium for the artistic creations of Alicja Bielawska. They were used for the site specific installation, also acting as the background for a series of sculptures by Barabara Falender, which can be viewed from 7 February to 17 April 2022 at the STUDIO theatre- gallery in Warsaw as part of the "MATERIA(L)NIE / (IM)MATERIAL" exhibition.
The centre piece of the "MATERIAL(L)NIE / (IM)MATERIAL" exhibition is a 1973 series of sculptures by Barbara Falender called the Erotic Pillows from the collection of the STUDIO art gallery. The sculptures, made from Carrara marble, have been part of the gallery's collection since 1985. Two years later they were displayed at STUDIO causing a stir due to their bold erotic character. Paulina Olszewska, the curator of the exhibition, invited Alicja Bielawska to enter into a dialogue with Barbara Falender's sculptures. Bielawska used fabrics to create an installation that interacts with the spaces of STUDIO and creates an intimate ambiance for presenting the sculpted works. Additionally, the exhibition features paper drawings for Erotic Pillows (also dated 1973) presented to the public for the first time.
Working with the material and its properties is a key feature of Bielawska's and Felander's art. By transforming what is physical, i.e. real, both artists move towards the aspects of sensuality and impression. The tension between the two opposing qualities – materiality and sensuality – is the main axis of this exhibition. It encapsulates one of the major aspects of Erotic Pillows, the female bliss and the pleasures of sexuality.
As a partner of the exhibition, we donated nearly 80 running meters of various fabrics. Renard, a classic soft velvet, was used to cover the platforms mounting Barbara Falender's Erotic Pillows. The semi-transparent drapes made from the Porcelina voile, digitally printed in patterns designed by Alicja Bielawska, create an ambiance of intimacy, conducive to the contemplation of brave, sensual sculptures openly focusing on female sexuality.
The exhibition is part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the STUDIO theatre-gallery.
MATERIA(L)NIE Alicja Bielawska Barbara Falender, exhibition views, Studio Gallery, photo: Anna Zagrodzka, courtesy of the gallery
Curator: Paulina Olszewska
Barbara Falender (1947) studied at the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw under Prof. Jerzy Jarnuszkiewicz. She creates sculptures, drawings and photographs, working in stone, bronze, epoxy, porcelain and glass, combining various materials in her works. She received various scholarships, including the Italian Government scholarship from Laboratorio dei marmi Carlo Nicoli in Carrara (1976) and a scholarship from the Tadeusz Kościuszko Foundation in New York (1998). Her works were displayed at numerous solo exhibitions: the Opera Gallery in Warsaw (2020), the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Oronsko (2007), the Kordegarda Gallery in Warsaw (1995) and the Athenaeum Gallery in Copenhagen (1975).
Alicja Bielawska (1980) graduated in art history at the University of Warsaw (2005) and fine arts at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam (2009). She is a PhD student in the Interdepartmental Environmental Doctoral Program at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk. She creates drawings and sculptures using fabric, metal, wood and ceramics as her medium. Her works focus on the material aspects of everyday life and the relationships between objects, interiors, and memories. She also touches upon the relativity of our perception. Her art includes the elements of choreography and performance.
The exhibition runs until 17 April 2022.
More information at https://teatrstudio.pl/pl/galeria/wystawy/materialnie/
Fabrics used in the project:
Porcelina is a collection of voiles with a delicate structure. Light and sleek, these semi-transparent decorative products are available in two pastel colours: white and ivory. One of their advantages is their economical size of 320 cm and easy maintenance by washing in water (30ºC) or dry-cleaning. Can be used in all spaces that require the use of a large number of net curtains. A similar collection is the Belinda voile.
Renard is a modern version of classic cotton velvet, made more durable by its Teflon® coating. This soft, versatile upholstery fabric is available in a wide range of 56 beautiful, deep colours. Its refined matte surface will bring out the shapes of traditional and modern furniture. It is particularly recommended for luxurious private interiors. Dry clean only.
