The Exhibition "Positive - Negative" will open next week |
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Published: 2024-08-27
They are united by Poland, France and their Jewish roots, but their life experiences are different. They are united by their need for artistic expression, but differ in the medium in which they create. They are connected by black and white, positive and negative, but have different perspectives on the world: Ida Chwoles` and Richard Bilan`s exhibition "Positive - Negative" will open on September 6th 2024 at Museum of Culture and Identity of Lithuanian Jews (Pylimo str. 4A).
The exhibition consists of 45 photographs by Ida Chwoles printed on fabric and PVC panels and 38 works by Richard Bilan (8 acrylics on canvas, 17 fabrics and 13 maché paper sculptures).
The focus of both artists is always the human being - his psycho-physical condition, his relationship to his environment, his embeddedness in the role he plays.
The exhibition shows that although photography has dominated the world since the 20th century, painting is still alive and both techniques can coexist in a small space without any friction.
The exhibition also makes it clear how these different, however, tools of artistic expression complement each other - at the same time creating new qualities for the viewer to imbibe.
It shows how the painter's use of only black and white can allude to obtaining the positive and negative in the process of developing film. The presence of the sculptures, corresponding in their form, shape and manner of execution with the ephemeral human figures from the canvases, reinforces the perception of art as a certain whole, which creates a spectacle in front of the viewer.
Even as a young girl, Ida Chwoles was passionate about photography, how much more modest than the medium her grandfather, Rafał Chwoles the painter, had at his disposal. She looked at his paintings painted far away from her beloved Vilnius. Her grandfather`s paintings now are permanently exhibited in Vilnius, while Ida`s photographs will be shown in the adjacent hall.
"Her photographs are the result of carefully considered composition, emotion and exploration. And subjects: human faces, figures, movement, concentration, haste, curiosity – anything that finds its way into the frame and freezes. Man is at the centre of Ida's world and man is taken for granted. She leaves the interpretation of what her camera has 'spotted' to the sensory experience of the viewer", says Katarzyna Moskała, curator of the exhibition.
Richard Bilan's work is a layering and interweaving of successive life experiences. Under the guise of fabulous, ephemeral forms and shapes reminiscent of children`s art, the artist reveals to the viewer the demons of the past - characters, places, events.
One of Bilan`s most important childhood experiences and memories was the circus, and its magical world unfolds in his works. "In his work Bilan is real both as a person and as an artist. He repeats himself that to be an artist is to be constantly reborn," says the curator.
Ida Chwoles was born 1973 in Paris, daughter of Milij and Eva Chwoles, granddaughter of famous litvak artist Rafael Chwoles. Ida studied history at the Sorbonne, held exhibitions in Paris and around Paris, Lyon, Vilnius, Toruń. She has travelled in Europe, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, Armenia, Georgia - in search of portraits and looks.
Richard Bilan was born in Krakow in 1946, spent his childhood in Kłodzko. Left Poland in 1968 and settled in Israel. Studied utility graphics at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. He took part in the Yom Kippur War. Wrote the autobiography "Ejruw", published 2 volumes of poetry. He has lived in Paris since 1975, where he paints, sculpts, creates prints, writes poetry and short stories.
Richard has had dozens of exhibitions in France, Israel, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, USA, England, travels between Poland, Israel and France.
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