Three years since her milestone exhibition Stendhal Syndrome, a showcase that included an installation referring to artist’s presentation during Biennale di Venezia, Katrin Fridriks is back in Berlin with a new show produced in close collaboration with Avant Arte. Coinciding with Berlin’s biggest art event of the year, Gallery Weekend, the Icelandic artist will be presenting WASTE, a conceptual exhibition that will be inaugurated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland: Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, on April 26th at 17:30 @ Circle Culture, Gipstrasse 11, Berlin.

Fully focused on environmental issues, climate change, and the upsetting pollution and waste disposal problems around the globe, this new body of work by Katrin Fridriks is directly connected with her most recent Waste edition. Taking the leftovers, the waste of her painting process, as the base for exciting new pieces and concepts, the artist is pointing at the importance of revaluation of what we consider waste and the endless possibilities of recycling and reusing. With every step of the process being an important gesture that could possibly inspire global change, this new show is focused on sending a universal message of our strong link to nature and our dependence on its resources.

The works exhibited are prints of the photographs of her studio space floor, screenprinted on gold and silver emergency blankets. Familiar with using the reflective surface to accent her creations and message, the new pieces are reinventing other recurring elements, such as micro and macro perspectives or her signature leak and fractal painting techniques. Employing the basic first aid kit item as a canvas for her new pieces, Fridriks created an instant sense of urgency and importance to the subject she’s touching with this body of work. With two colors symbolizing cold and warmth, the opposites which are continuously shifting sides globally, the artist and her team developed a complex narrative that leads to presentation of this powerful work. Starting with custom designed invitations as an introduction, and ending with the unparalleled gallery presentation, the artist is taking the visitors on a thought provoking journey by simply indicating the elements that can be associated with the subjects she wants to start the dialog about.

Although her work always implied natural forms or the landscapes of her native Iceland, the use of foil as canvas relates to the hi-tech times we’re living in; time of accelerated space exploration progress, reminding us of the great cosmos we’re part of. The exhibition itself comprises of 68 examples of prints on foil, fitting the packaging that will be sent out as an invitation for this event. Evidently resembling the original packaging of an object used to save human lives in most extreme situations, the pieces are striking reminders of the emergency to preserve our environment. The show will also include small sculptural pieces that will showcase the concept of Waste editions through semi figurative pieces representing masks, as well as premiere the new Wasted Pills series that is bringing up the sensitive issue of pharmaceutical and biohazardous refuse disposal.

This conceptual show will be held simultaneously with an exclusive painting showcase that will be hosted at the prestigious Hotel de Rome – Berlin, and both exhibitions & related events on Gallery Weekend in Berlin will be part of Icelandic embassy’s program on the 100th anniversary of sovereignty.

Sasha Bogojev

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More info:
http://www.circleculture.com/

Waste solo show in collaboration with Avant-Arte
Circle Culture – Gipsstrasse 11, 10119 Berlin

Opening: 26 Apr. 2018 from 5.30 to 9pm

Followed by Berlin Gallery weekend: 27-29 Apr. 2018
Exhibition running from 27 Apr. to 10 June 2018

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Interstellar Spaces

Art collaboration with Circle Culture
Hotel de Rome – Behrenstrasse 37, 10117 Berlin

Opening: 28 Apr. 2018
Exhibition running from 29 Apr. to 5 Sept. 2018

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