Artistic Youth in Solingen: Seeking Connections and Collaborations
In the heart of Solingen, a city renowned for its artistic heritage, the Gallery SK is set to host an exciting new exhibition titled "Contact". This showcase, opening on July 6th, will feature the works of four promising Leipzig-based artists: Franziska Dathe, Felix Lorenz, Mathilda Köhler, and Leon Friedrichs.
These young artists, who began their art studies in 2019, have each developed unique and captivating styles. Franziska Dathe finds inspiration in the everyday life scenes of Leipzig, translating them into vibrant paintings that resonate with the city's spirit.
Felix Lorenz, on the other hand, explores the ordinary through his printmaking, using familiar objects like washing machines and stoves as subjects and placing them among different houses in a surreal scene. The interiors of these houses are flipped outward, creating a thought-provoking juxtaposition of the private and public spheres.
Leon Friedrichs, who also studied mathematics before transferring to the Academy of Fine Arts and Bookbinding, brings a diverse selection of his travel sketches to the exhibition. His print graphics depict scenes, landscapes, and objects in an abstracted manner, with careful attention to detail. A highlight of his work is a 1.20 x 2-meter woodcut that he pulled by hand.
Mathilda Köhler's work blurs the boundaries between subjects and backgrounds, aiming to restore the lost connection with nature. Pieces like a colored woodcut showing a man turning into wood and a painting depicting a woman turning into a tree are testament to this.
In addition to their individual pieces, Leon Friedrichs and Felix Lorenz co-direct the original graphic publisher Staffel since 2023. This collaboration is evident in their shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of printmaking and exploring new techniques.
The "Contact" exhibition offers an interesting variety of perspectives and insights into the world of printmaking techniques, including woodcuts, etchings, charcoal drawings, watercolors, and paintings.
The exhibition is supported by the Friends of the Leipzig Academy of Graphic Arts and Bookbinding and will be on display from July 6 to 29 at the Galerie SK in the Güterhallen/Südpark. The opening hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm, Sundays from 11 am to 12 pm and 2 to 5 pm. The opening reception is on July 6 at 3 pm.
For more detailed information about the artists and their work, we encourage you to visit the official website or press releases of Gallery SK, or contact the exhibition organisers. This exhibition promises to be a must-see for art enthusiasts and a great opportunity to discover the next generation of Leipzig's contemporary artists.
This oft-overlooked neighboring sphere of art, home-and-garden, may find inspiration in Franziska Dathe's vibrant paintings that resonate with the city's spirit. Furthermore, Felix Lorenz's surreal scenes of familiar objects, placed among different houses, could entice conversations about the fluidity of our living spaces and lifestyles.
