On 8 March, Contemporary Lynx attended “The Method”, Paulina Olowska’s opening exhibition at artist-led Studio Voltaire in London.
Studio Voltaire, established in 1994, is located in Clapham in a former Methodist church. Voltaire is an important place on London’s art map. Well-known for its experimental curatorial projects and for initiating a dialogue with independent curators and artistic organisations, it launches the artist-in-residence programmes and gives access to premises suitable for young artists’ studios. It is only a part of Studio Voltaire’s ambitious and wide-ranging programme. It is also worth mentioning that Voltaire displayed the works of such artists as Spartacus Chetwynd, Donald Urquhart and Clunie Reid.
General view of the gallery space. On the first plan: Paulina Olowska, “After Wladyslaw Hasior”, three mannequins, silkscreen on leather, courtesy of Metro Picture, New York.
This time, it was Paulina Olowska who was invited to collaboration. The artist is known for her contextual projects in which she often evokes the events and artists from past eras. In her work she often refers to the modernist utopian visions and the spirit of the 60s. Especially for the Voltaire’s interior, Olowska suggested an interesting artistic experiment. She juxtaposed her works with works by Wladyslaw Hasior (1928-1999), Mathias Schaufler (1964) and Wlodzimierz Wieczorkiewicz (1945-2000), artists completely unknown for the British audience and remaining outside the contemporary creation methods.
Wladyslaw Hasior,”I Will Never Forget You” and “Usurper”, both circa 1970, mixed materials, courtesy of Muzeum Tatrzanskie, Zakopane, Photo©Lynx
According to a press release, the exhibition’s title – “The Method” – refers to both the gallery’s location – the former Methodist church, and word method – the method of production / manufacturing. Presented artists, selected by Olowska are beyond current method of production. Their work seem to be out of fashion and culturally redundant. The idea of production methods also features in the collages done by Olowska. One of them presents women working in a car factory in Tychy in Poland. The purpose of all these procedures is to create a platform to encourage reflection and discussion about the value and status of works of art in time of contemporary cultural production. The Method” comes under the Studio Voltaire’s artistic mission according to which an experiment and reflection upon contemporary art play a significant role. It is worth following the Voltaire’s artistic programme.
Paulina Olowska, “Tychy Plant”, 2013 collage on paper, courtesy of Simon Lee Gallery, Photo©Lynx
Paulina Olowska, “Gossip Among the Stuff”, 2013, Edition of 150. Photo©Studio Voltaire
Especially for the exhibition, Olowska prepared a limited edition lithographs with a print of 150 copies for 50£ each. The works may be purchased directly at Studio Voltaire or online. For more information, please click here.
The exhibition will last until 11 May. Moreover, the artist invites the audience for a meeting with a contemporary poet, Wojtek Puslowski, which will take place on 2 May. “
translation: Katarzyna Przybyś
