ART-PRESENTATION: Lila Polenaki–Susanne Pittroff

“A Two-Way Thing”, is the title of the new exhibition of Lina Polenaki and Susanne Pittroff. As different as their works may appear at first glance, their affinity to objectness and form will eventually unite these. The forms, which have been retained in Polenaki’s images, become three-dimensional objects in Susanne Pittroff’s works, objects, which enter into a conversation with their surrounding architecture.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Françoise Heitsch Gallery Archive

Fabrics and patterns dominate in Polenaki’s work. In Susanne Pittroff’s work, form and colour become the essential components, which not only alter the space but also our perception of it. Several smaller works by the Athenian artist Lila Polenaki are exhibited. They appear like colorful flower bouquets, yet hold within an object-like nature. This impression is strengthened by the idiosyncratically arranged fragments of images, book cut-outs, and different fabrics. The works originate directly from the artist’s cosmos and it is this process, which provides them with a fabulous vitality. We are standing in front of a fancy birthday cake, and yet we feel as overwhelmed as if we had just encountered a mesmerizing oriental story. We develop a relationship with her images, since these remind us of what has long gone. The forms, which have been retained in Polenaki’s images, become three-dimensional objects in Susanne Pittroff’s works, objects, which enter into a conversation with their surrounding architecture. Susanne Pittroff draws on these thoughts and shows textile objects, which strongly contrast each other in their colour set up. The circular objects appear like colored space-filling islands and their shape points towards those ephemeral spheres, which deal with topics such as availability, enclosure, or isolation. The symbolism and the used materials consistently open up several semantic levels set within social or political contexts.Thus, two different realms which support and strengthen each other. On the one hand, the sublime and well thought through world in dialogue with its surrounding architecture as presented by the Munich-based artist Susanne Pittroff, on the other, a playful world that draws from everyday live with a wink as shown by the Athenian artist Lila Polenaki.

Info: A Two-Way Thing, Françoise Heitsch Gallery, Amalienstrasse 19, München, Duration: 16/7-31/7/15, Days & Hours: Tue-Fri: 12:00-19:00, Sat: 12:00-16:00, http://francoiseheitsch.de