Light Filters Through The Gaps In The Leaves

Jen Hitchings / Maria Sainz Rueda / Stefano Galli / Theresa Möller

Artemin Select Group Show Vol. 002

Artemin Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of “Light filters through the gaps in the leaves,” the group exhibition of four artists Stefano Galli, Jen Hitchings, Theresa Möller, and Maria Sainz Rueda, altogether showcasing 14 recent works. The exhibition is on view from April 6 to May 11, 2024.

Stefano Galli (b. 1989, Florence, Italy) creates a fantasy world where giant insects inhabit the forests and enormous flowers grow on alien planets. His paintings depict mysterious and energetically charged ecosystems, thriving with life yet carrying an ominous tranquility that hints at the apocalyptic consequences of global warming. It’s as if a pristine land, untouched by human interference, emerges from the extreme devastation. Galli’s use of mobile devices to sketch flying insects and then transferring them onto canvas combines traditional painting techniques with the innovative attempt of our digital age. His compositions, with clear distinctions between foreground and background, create strong contrasts and break conventional norms. What’s most striking is Galli’s talent to showcase his exceptional painting skills in the distant landscapes while boldly incorporating brightly colored insects in a deliberate “bad painting” style. His approach is free-spirited and daring, and from both compositional and stylistic perspectives, Galli accomplishes a successful and well-executed experiment in making layered and vibrant paintings.

LA-based artist Jen Hitchings (b. 1988, New Jersey, USA) makes contemporary surrealist paintings influenced by the Hudson River School, Japanese landscape paintings, science fiction film posters, and 1960’s-1970’s album art. Hitchings paints her interpretations of western zodiac constellations in the sky not out of a particular fascination with astrology, but rather investigating religious and philosophical ideologies from an objective lens through the use of symbols. This perspective is merged into landscapes she observes or imagines, exploring the human tendency to ascribe meaning and interpretations of our actions to and from celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars. The surreal nature of Hitchings’ work lies in her mastery of color, peculiar symmetry, depictions of mountains or clouds with surreal wave-like patterns, and the blending of sky and earth in an uncanny flow. She captures the changing phases of the sun and moon akin to recording time with their trajectories as humanity had to do before the advent of timekeeping machines, illuminating her interest in the mysterious forces of the universe and human thought.

Montreal-based German artist Theresa Möller (b.1988, Leipzig, Germany) finds inspiration in the colors and forms of nature, allowing imagery to guide her portrayal of the natural world. Delving into her works, one can perceive a reflection of a psyche, albeit chaotic, yearning for a semblance of order. She gravitates towards sweet mauves, powdery blues, fruity oranges, and marine greens, delicately weaving intricate yet orderly lines that intersect like wild growth in a field. Conversely, the backgrounds of her pieces are rendered in chaotic states with paint, while the foregrounds present order with clear lines. The gradient effects and the interplay of numerous intertwined lines form geometric blocks of color, a skill Möller delves into with ease. Consequently, her works possess strong expressiveness, while also showcasing intense emotions.

We rarely have the opportunity to sink into the water and let buoyancy relax our entire body, drifting effortlessly. However, for Leipzig-based Spanish German artist Maria Sainz Rueda (b. 1976, Heidelberg, Germany), the sense of fluidity has always come naturally. Ever since she began dancing at a young age, she has been fascinated by it, and now she expresses it more profoundly through her paintings. Many people endured a pessimistic year in 2023 amidst natural disasters and human tragedies. Similarly, Sainz Rueda has been deeply concerned about disasters caused by human ambition, such as war and climate change. The perspective on life offered by British biologist Merlin Sheldrake’s book, “Entangled Life: How fungi make our worlds, change our minds and shape our futures”, has given her a new perspective. She marvels at the infinite potential hidden within organisms, thus engaging in a process of self-release through her painting after untangling her own complexities. The linear fluidity in her artwork, intertwined and flowing with different colors, seems to collide within the buoyancy of water, unfolding like unique organisms thriving. It’s as if a vast amount of water, fire, and air simultaneously flood a space, evoking a disturbing yet captivating sense of beauty.

The exhibition is titled “Light filters through the gaps in the leaves” to point out the shared expressions of the four artists in both imagery and state of mind. With 14 vibrant artworks resonating at a high frequency, it feels as if viewers are immersed in a rainforest, fostering a diverse array of flora and fauna. Beneath the canopy of lush foliage, beaming sunlight subtly filters through, creating an ecosystem that is not only nurturing but also surreal and intriguing for viewers to explore.