Current Exhibition
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EXHIBITION:
THE SAND, THE LINE AND THE CONSEQUENCES: NEW PAINTINGS by Karina Wisniewska
DATES: Dec. 18 - Jan. 31, 2009
RECEPTION: Thursday, Dec. 18, 6-8pm
coun-ter-point- \'kaûn-tər-,pôint\
1a: one or more
independent melodies added above or below a given melody b:
the combination of two or more independent melodies into a single harmonic
texture in which each retains its linear character polyphony 2a:
a complementing or contrasting item: opposite b:
use of a contrast or interplay of elements in a work of art (as a drama)
Sara Tecchia Roma New
York is extremely pleased to present the New York solo debut exhibition
of new quartz sand paintings by Swiss-based artist, Karina Wisniewska.
Wisniewska was formally
trained in both classical music, as well as fine arts in Austria and
Switzerland. After an ill-fated accident ended her career as an established
concert pianist, Wisniewska turned to painting with quartz sand as a
means for the visual expression of rhythm and musicality. The artist
describes her works as "sound pictures".
Wisniewska's continuously
evolving oeuvre consists of lush abstract paintings of dichromatic calligraphic-like writings
and monochromatic geometric motifs of a more structured nature. The
artist gives chance plenty of "free rein" but states, "I constantly
intervene in a consciously ordered fashion by keeping the wrist flexible
and varying the pressure and speed. "Yet, the works appear deceivingly
spontaneous with overlapping lines that free flow like a piece of music:
chance occurrences and intentions mingle freely. To achieve the tactile
sensation Wisniewska employs a meticulous process "by tying a small
bottle of acrylic paint mixed with lacquer to the brush so the paint
flow never ceases," and must overcome the challenges this presents.
"I paint free hand without the aid of rulers or compasses directly
on the canvas. The difficulty is that the time to fill the paint with
quartz sand is very short" and requires extreme precision.
Johann Sebastian Bach
and John Cage, both masters of counterpoint, are the main sources of
inspiration for Wisniewska's entire artistic output. The artist seeks
to reduce her paintings to only the most essential embellishments (Cage),
while harmonizing the divisions (Bach). Thus, Wisniewska's visual
rhythm is the product of two opposing poles; the random and the intentional;
the line and the space; the positive and the negative; the counterpoint.
Wisniewska's work can be found in the UBS collection in Zurich, Switzerland, the Musee Abbatiale de Payerne, Switzerland and in numerous established private collections. The paintings have also been presented at Art Basel Miami, Art Cologne, ArteFiera Bologna, Scope New York, Art Dubai and Art Shanghai among others.