All posts filed under “Artists

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Victory over Nature and Man – 27.9.-19.10.2024

Drawings by Jussi Pyky

Toolbox Kabinett: Carola Ernst

You are very welcome to our opening on Fri 27.9.2024, 7 pm

27.9.–19.10.2024, Toolbox opening hours: Wed–Sat 3–7 pm

Toolbox is open on the Kolonie Wedding weekend only on Sunday, 29.9.2024 from 2–6pm

For German, please scroll down


Jussi Pyky

It gave him fire.
He cooked the meat and ate.
He heated the ore to separate the iron.
He forged a sword, an axe, a plow and a scythe.
He built a shelter for the cattle and harnessed his horse to pull the plow.
He took over the land, cleared the forests, sowed the field and reaped the harvest.
It gave him simple machines.
He dug his way into the ground.
He built great machines that spewed the contents of the earth into the sky.
It gave him electricity.
He built engines and robots to do jobs that humans would have needed.
It gave him radio waves.
He developed the radio and used it to spread his propaganda.
It gave him artificial intelligence.
He amassed vast material to control, rule and maximize his profits.
It gave him power.
He had blind faith in his vision and infallibility.
He considered all the misery and suffering he caused to be necessary.
That’s the price of progress.

Jussi Pyky (born in Tyrnävä, Finland 1985 ) lives and works in Helsinki. He graduated from the
Lahti Institute of Fine Arts in 2009 and from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 2016. Pyky has presented his works in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Finland and abroad. His work is found in Seppo Fränti Collection in Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and private collections.
Download CV Jussi Pyky (PDF)

The exhibition has been supported by the Alfred Kordelin Foundation and the Finnish Art
Promotion Center.

Artwork: Jussi Pyky Worldview, 2024, charcoal and ink on paper, 195 x 150 cm


Carola Ernst – Wirkung [Effect]

Solar, 2021
indian ink, watercolor – wax pastell, oil pastel chalk, acrylic, graphite on canvas
136 x 121 cm (artist framed)

Conundrum images, tilt figures, hidden object images, forms of multi-stable perception,
and multi-perspective are well-known forms of expression in art.
I am engaged in the exploration of new perceptual strategies in painting and drawing. On a
scientific level, my work is influenced by the theories of advanced psychophysics and the
findings of neuroscience on processes of perception and consciousness. The limits of
perception with the question of reality, fantasy, and imagination are essential components.
The experience of different levels of reality in the visual arts, as they can be experienced,
for example, in shifts of consciousness in dreams or intoxication, as well as the
intensification of impressions through provoked emotions or intrusive memories, are here
the core of my artistic work.

Download CV Carola Ernst (PDF)


Deutsch:

Herzliche Einladung zur Eröffnung der Ausstellung am Freitag, 27.9.2024, ab 19 Uhr

Am Koloniewochenende ist die Toolbox nur am Sonntag, 29.9.2024 von 14–18 Uhr geöffnet.

Victory over Nature and Man [Sieg über Natur und Mensch]

Es gab ihm Feuer.
Er kochte das Fleisch und aß.
Er erhitzte das Erz, um das Eisen zu trennen.
Er schmiedete ein Schwert, eine Axt, einen Pflug und eine Sense.
Er baute einen Unterstand für das Vieh und schirrte sein Pferd an, um den Pflug zu ziehen.
Er eroberte das Land, rodete die Wälder, säte den Acker und erntete die Früchte.
Es gab ihm einfache Maschinen.
Er grub sich in den Boden.
Er baute große Maschinen, die den Inhalt der Erde in den Himmel schleuderten.
Sie schenkte ihm Elektrizität.
Er baute Motoren und Roboter, um Arbeiten zu erledigen, die Menschen gebraucht hätten.
Er schenkte ihm Radiowellen.
Er entwickelte das Radio und nutzte es, um seine Propaganda zu verbreiten.
Sie schenkte ihm künstliche Intelligenz.
Er häufte riesige Mengen an Material an, um zu kontrollieren, zu herrschen und seine Gewinne zu maximieren.
Das gab ihm Macht.
Er hatte blindes Vertrauen in seine Vision und Unfehlbarkeit.
Er hielt all das Elend und Leid, das er verursachte, für notwendig.
Das ist der Preis des Fortschritts.

Jussi Pyky (geboren 1985 in Tyrnävä, Finnland) lebt und arbeitet in Helsinki. Er schloss sein Studium am Lahti Institute of Fine Arts im Jahr 2009 und an der Finnischen Akademie der Schönen Künste im Jahr 2016 ab. Pyky hat seine Werke in zahlreichen Einzel- und Gruppenausstellungen in Finnland und im Ausland präsentiert. Seine Arbeiten befinden sich in der Sammlung Seppo Fränti im Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst Kiasma und in privaten Sammlungen.

Download CV Jussi Pyky (PDF)


Carola Ernst – Wirkung

Vexierbilder, Kippfiguren, Wimmelbilder, Formen der multistabilen Wahrnehmung und
Multiperspektive sind in der Kunst bekannte Ausdrucksformen.

Ich beschaftige mich mit der Erforschung neuer Wahrnehmungsstrategien in der Malerei
und Zeichnung. Auf wissenschaftlicher Ebene wird meine Arbeit von Theorien der
weiterfuhrenden Psychophysik und Erkenntnissen der Neurowissenschaften uber
Wahrnehmungs- und Bewusstseinsprozesse beeinflusst. Die Grenzen der Wahrnehmung
mit der Frage von Wirklichkeit, Fantasie und Imagination sind wesentliche Bestandteile.
Das Erleben verschiedener Realitatsebenen in der Bildenden Kunst, wie sie z. B. auch bei
Bewusstseinsverschiebungen im Traum oder Rauschzustand erfahren werden konnen,
sowie die Intensivierung von Eindrucken durch provozierte Emotionen oder intrusive
Erinnerungen bilden den Kern meiner kunstlerischen Arbeit.


Toolbox opening hours: Wed–Sat 3–7 pm

Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Wales

Unearthing: Dadorchuddio 30.6.–20.7.2024

Artists from Wales and Berlin at Toolbox Finnish-German Art Space Berlin

Opening: 28.6.2024, 7pm

Exhibition 30.6.–20.7.2024

Artists:

Wales: Marja Bonada, Katie Cyfenw, Penny Hallas

Berlin: Susanne Ring

Opening hours: Wed–Sat 3–7 pm

Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Yö Galerie Helsinki

Yö in Berlin 1.-22.6.2024

You are warmly welcome to our opening of Yö in BERLIN on Friday, 31 May 2024, 6–10pm.

address:
Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX, Koloniestraße 120,
13359 Berlin-Wedding, U-Bahn Osloerstraße

Yö ry Artists’ Association is an advocacy organization for professional artists from various
fields, primarily operating in Helsinki. YÖ in BERLIN is a group exhibition organized by Yö
ry, featuring works by its member artists. Yö has over 300 member artists and a gallery in
Helsinki on Lönnrotinkatu. The space is free for all exhibiting artists, not just members of the
association. At the core of Yö is its members’ desire to act. Yö ry is not merely an artist-run
gallery but a coalition of proactive and enthusiastic professionals from various fields. Yö is a
movement and community, whose large membership enables even the most ambitious initia-
tives to be realized.

YÖ IN BERLIN is the first exhibition exchange between Yö ry and Galerie Toolbox. The exhi-
bition is curated by Toolbox’s founding members together with Yö ry members Mia Makela
and Henriikka Pöllänen.

Yö’s exhibition at Galerie Toolbox includes video art, visual art, and a portfolio showcase,
where you can browse the works of Yö’s member artists on a screen. The video works and
portfolios were selected through an open call.

All the videos have been produced during 2020´s. The video works have been curated into 3
different screening programs. Remnants of the Wild presents videos exploring our partner-
ships to non-human world from Earth Forces, Mia Makela and Lau Rämö. Tapestry of Time
contains video works unraveling the echoes of past in the present time from Johanna Väisä-
nen, Hanna Råst, Joonas Jokiranta and Airbakers (Toivola & Wager).
Close Encounters presents a collection of videos focused on exploring intimacy through per-
formance art from Juhani Koivumäki, Kainulainen&Latva, Mari Hokkanen, Eoin O`Dowd,
To Kosie, Henttu&Nummi&Kin and Ginko Hsu.

The paintings and sculptures in the exhibition bring forth the diversity of materials. Isabel
Pathirane’s paintings are bound together by the strong use of color and expressiveness. Tuo-
mas Holst blurs the lines between painting and sculpture with works that are made from re-
cycled materials. Krista Blomqvist’s series “Creatures of the Night” consists of paintings on
copper, which evolve over time as the copper itself changes. The glass sculptures of Henriik-
ka Pöllänen and Kimmo Reinikka bring out different dimensions of glass as material.

Curatorial team consisted of Toolbox founding members Maija Helasvuo and Niina Räty in
collaboration with Yö Association board members Mia Mäkelä and Henriikka Pöllänen.

Opening program includes a performance from Tapani Pirog and an opening talk by Yö cura-
torial team. Some of the artists will be present. Artist meetings on Saturday 1. 6 from 16 until
20 at the gallery.

Tapani Pirog is a Helsinki-based ultramodernist and post-expressionist.

https://www.instagram.com/aetherblau/

www.pirog.fi

More information on the schedule will be available later on Yö’s and Toolbox’s websites.

https://www.yory.fi/fi/etusivu

Artwork: Johanna Väisänen


Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Nadja Schöllhammer

Juha Säski, Nadja Schöllhammer 28.4.–25.5.2024

Juha Sääski
Joyful light and gloomy shadows

Nadja Schöllhammer
Human Tangle

28.4.-25.5. 2024

Opening on Friday 26.4. 2024, 19-21

Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin Wedding
we-sat 3-7 pm
U Bahn Osloerstraße


Juha Sääski Artwork
Mortality is elsewhere, mixed media on paper (watercolour, acrylic, colouring pencil, drawing charcoal on paper), 40 x 60 cm, 2022

Juha Sääski is showing a collection of mixed-media works, which are dealing with lights and shadows of human life. Mixed media in this case means: : acrylic color, watercolor, colouring pencil, drawing charcoal, pencil on paper.

The starting point for this theme was an own experience of the fragile dividing line between life and death. The works are shared in two parts, the larger area is filled with colorful and happy world of life, the smaller area shows black and white and cold shadows of death.
Sääski uses cliche-like, naive , happy and sad contradicting elements and some humoristic tools. In combining tragic-comical and contradicting elements he is striving to describe the paradoxes, the fragility and the beauty of human life.
According to Charlie Chaplin: ”Life is tragic at close up, but comedy from distance”.

Juha Sääski is a finnish artist, born in Helsinki 1952, living and working at west-south of Finland. He has exhibited mostly in Finland but also internationally, in Berlin in several solo shows and in several group exhibitions and in Germany also for instance in Galerie Nord, Nuremberg, Galerie Nord/Kunstverein Tiergarten Berlin, Ludwig Museum, Koblenz and Kunstverein & Kunsthaus Viernheim. Sääski has also participated exhibitions in UK, USA, Sweden, Italy and Estonia. More information and CV at homepages: www.juha-saaski.fi and also www.galerietoolbox.com.

artwork Nadja Schöäälammer

Ghosts at work (I)

Nadja Schöllhammer: “Ghosts at work (I)”, 2011/2024, 
Paper, cut-outs, newspaper fragments, hot glue, Indian ink, wood, eggshell and plant parts, 
53 x 72 x 20 cm
photo and © Nadja Schöllhammer

Nadja Schöllhammer – Human Tangle

Nadja Schöllhammer invents methods of expanded drawing. At Toolbox Gallery, she is showing a selection of drawings and paper assemblages. Schöllhammer is interested in the mutability of human consciousness and the connection between individual and collective existence. In her group of works “Human Tangle”, she develops graphic transformations of human body forms. Using pencil, cutter knive, hot glue and Indian ink, she explores the material paper and thus creates a structure in which the individual bodies are integrated into a larger organism.
She describes her approach as follows: “By expanded drawing, I approach a condition that seems impossible in so-called reality: a parallel world in which the (supposed) boundaries between human/animal/plant, male/female, beautiful/ugly disappear. An alternative world to the usual hierarchies of perception and meaning, in which many things are possible at the same time and contradictions are overcome.”
Nadja Schöllhammer, born 1971 in Esslingen am Neckar (Germany), has shown her work in Germany and abroad, e.g. at Kunsthalle Tübingen, Galerie Nord/ Kunstverein Tiergarten Berlin, Fengxian Museum, Shanghai, Marta Herford Museum, ARTER Istanbul, Arp Museum Rolandseck, Remagen and many more. She has received numerous grants and awards, including grants by Kunstfonds Bonn, Künstlerhaus Schloss Balmoral`s grant and art award, the Tokyo residency by Berlin Senate, DAAD travel grants for Colombia and Mexico, a grant by Akademie Schloss Solitude Stuttgart, and many more. Since 2024, she holds a professorship for drawing at Hochschule Hannover. Schöllhammer lives and works in Berlin and Hannover. More information at
www.nadjaschoellhammer.de

Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Joakim Sederholm 30.3.–20.4.2024

Joachim Sederholm

We cordially invite you to the opening
 with works by Joakim Sederholm and Anton Laiko on Friday, 29 March 2024 from 7 pm.

I have always tried to express humanity with my work. I have expressed what it meens to be a fragile human being. I hope my art would increase tolerance and understanding between people. Often my work take the shape of a man or woman and sometimes a dog.
I mostly use wood as material.

Joakim Sederholm

Artwork. Sorrow, 2023, 21 x 21 x 83 cm, painted wood

Toolbox Kabinett: Anton Laiko

Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Iris Germanica
25.2.–23.3.2024

Siiri Haarla

Opening: Fri 23.02.2024, 7pm

Exhibition: 25.2-23.3.2024
Open on Kolonie Weekend, Sun 25.02. 24, 2–6pm

Toolbox Kabinett: Hildegard Skowasch


Iris Germanica, a plain flower seen all over Europe
Iris Germanica is Goddess of Everything
Iris Germanica is my sad song of time passing by

I think my painting as a living organism. In the beginning there is a seed of idea, something that bothers me and wants to see the light. First painting is a sprout, second is a leaf, third is maybe a flower and ten paintings makes a body.
I’d say: I paint for pleasure, pleasure of the recognition: that’s what it’s meant to be!
I’d hope: there are seeds of all seen sprinkled on you!

In my painting I’m guided by association and desire. I want to paint something that I yet never saw, but still when seeing it feels obvious. This feeling of recognition is what declares painting ready.

I moved to Berlin ten years ago, and while painting these paintings I also relived that time, time that made life permanently dichotomous, it goes on two tracks.

Iris Germanica is fragmented saga about time, loss, immigration, nation, myth, botanic, cities and evolution. Some parts were lost, some altered, its old but not original. It’s sincere but not true.

I am a visual artist based in Helsinki and Berlin. I did my MFA degree in 2011 in University of Fine Arts in Helsinki, where I’m also doing my PhD about meanings of colours an seeing. My works were shown in several soloshows and group exhibitions in Finland, Denmark and Germany like Helsinki Kunsthalle, Forum Box Gallery and Kunst am Spreeknie/Transformart festival.

Siiri Haarla
Helsinki 23.1.2024

artwork: Iris Germanica ‘Nibelungen’ oil painting on canvas, 140x100cm, 2023


Toolbox Kabinett: Hildegard Skowasch

Hildegard Skowasch

*born in Essen. Lives and works in Berlin.

Studied at the Kunstakademie Münster and at the Ecole supérieure des Arts Plastiques, Tourcoing (France).

Hildegard Skowasch’s work focuses on sculpture (paper/ceramics), drawing and printmaking. Starting from form, she uses different materials to create projection surfaces and a world of her own with shifts in content, possibilities and perspectives on being.

She is the initiator of artistic collaborations such as the “Hildegard Project” and “Generator”.

Since 1989, she has held numerous residencies, including at Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf, the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, USA, the Saari residence of the Kone Foundation, Finland and the KKVV Luleå, Sweden.

She exhibits internationally.

In 2019, she was represented with a comprehensive exhibition at the Polish National Museum in Gdansk and in 2022 with another major solo exhibition at the BWA Municipal Gallery in Olsztyn.

She is showing ceramic wall works in the Toolbox Gallery cabinet.

Hildegard Skowasch, untitled, 2019,ceramics glazed, ca 20 x 20 x 20 cm


Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

Wed, Fri-Sat 15-19, Thu 16-20
An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Archi GAlentz Toolbox

Vereinte Gegenüberstellung – Gagik Kurginian, Archi Galentz
26.1–16.2.2023

For German, Russian and Ukrainian, please scroll down


Exhibition Vereinte Gegenüberstellung by Gagik Kurginian and Archi Galentz.

Opening: Friday 26.01.2024 18.00-20.00 hrs

Opening hours of the exhibition: Sat 27.01 and Sun 28.01 from 16–20,
2 –3, 9 –10 and 16 February: 16–20 and by appointment by phone: 0179 54 75 312.

Archi Galentz

Archi Galentz


The year 2024 could be decisive. Another state could disappear from the world map. Completely or within the borders we know. After several years of the nightmare unfolding around us and the tragedy lurking within, this possibility no longer seems unimaginable. Last year, we Armenians lost an important part of our homeland – Artsakh. An independent democratic state, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia is in danger. Ukraine is in danger. Who is next? We are artists, and we have no ready-made recipes on how to bring back peace and stability, prosperity and confidence in the future. But we do have a refuge – our love of and belief in painting as a world of its own. In this exhibition, we want to reflect on the limits of this world.

Gagik Kurginian

Gagik Kurginian: Attack

We got to know each other at a vernissage at Galerie Taube in 2019. Gagik had been to Berlin several times before and was invited to take part in the December Salon. As it turned out – in the last catalogue of Galerie Taube. The next year, the Covid pandemic closed the borders and artistic exchange slowed down drastically. In February 2022, bombs fell on Ukraine and Gagik decided to leave his new home, studio, library and artworks to save his family. (The war began suddenly and insidiously. Modern missiles can reach any point in the country, no one is safe). The picturesque town of Uzhgorod, where Gagik lived with his young wife and daughter, lies on the border with Slovakia. I offered to come by car and pick up my colleague at the border. Many countries from Switzerland to Canada invited the Ukrainians, but Gagik was already familiar with Berlin and settled in the German capital with his family. In the Berlin district of Pankow, we ran a gallery together with the artist Andreas Wolf and Wolf&Galentz could not help but reflect on the situation after the outbreak of military aggression. In June 2022, we offered the public a group exhibition Commentaries on Betrayal and Violence. Gagik was the painter at the centre (focus) of this project. At the same time, we could not expect the 69-year-old artist to be able to immediately produce new works for the exhibition. After his arrival in Berlin, Gagik had to go through a long process of finding accommodation for his family, a school for his daughter and sorting out paperwork. However, Gagik brought his experience and vision of art to Germany and masterfully commented on the works of numerous artists of different generations and from different countries in our group exhibition. Gagik continues to actively participate in artistic life in Berlin, his works are light and virtuosic, lively and fascinating. I would also like to allow myself this freedom of expression. 30 years of living in Berlin have disciplined and somewhat constricted me. In this exhibition, I would like to allow myself to be a painter who comments. In addition to Gagik’s paintings, I am presenting a series of objects. Some are found, others are placed in the context of the frame, but all are not created with brush and paint. In addition, we – both Armenian artists – have created a joint print for this exhibition Vereinte Gegenüberstellung: Back to back, I – a Russian citizen and Gagik – a Ukrainian citizen try to demarcate a small free space for us. Thanks to Berlin, where artists find refuge and to Andreas Wolf and Toolbox where Gagik Kurginian and I are allowed to exhibit together.

Archi GAlentz

Archi Galentz

Archi Galentz, born 1971 in Moscow (Russia as part of the USSR), 1989 studied at the State University of Fine Arts and Theatre in Yerevan, Armenia (part of the USSR), 1992–97 studied art at the Berlin University of the Arts, master student of Klaus Fußmann. Since 1989 over eighty international exhibitions, since 2000 working as an exhibition curator, journalist and lecturer. Founding member of a platform for Armenian diaspora artists ‘Underconstruction.Home’. 2008 founding of his own project space InteriorDAsein in Berlin. 2019 founding, together with Andreas Wolf, of the gallery Wolf & Galentz Galerie in Berlin Pankow. Father of two children. Archi Galentz lives and works in Berlin.

Gagik

Gagik Kurginian: Self Portrait

Gagik Kurginian, born 1953 in Yerevan, Armenia (part of the USSR). 1966 resettlement with parents to Zaporizhia, Ukraine (part of the USSR). 1977 graduated from the State Medical University. In addition to being a doctor, he worked as a jeweller, sportsman and artist. Since 1989 participation in numerous international exhibitions. 2015(?) Relocation to Uzhgorog, Ukraine, 2022 relocation with family to Berlin. Father of two children. Gagik Kurginian lives and works in Berlin.


German

Das Jahr 2024 könnte entscheidend sein. Ein weiterer Staat könnte von der Weltkarte verschwinden. Vollständig oder innerhalb der uns bekannten Grenzen. Nach mehreren Jahren des Albtraums, der sich um uns herum abspielt, und der Tragödie in unserem Inneren, scheint diese Möglichkeit nicht mehr unvorstellbar. Letztes Jahr haben wir Armenier einen wichtigen Teil unseres Heimatlandes verloren – Arzach. Ein unabhängiger demokratischer Staat, auch bekannt als Berg-Karabach. Armenien ist in Gefahr. Die Ukraine ist in Gefahr. Wer ist der nächste? Wir sind Künstler, und wir haben keine fertigen Rezepte, wie wir Frieden und Stabilität, Wohlstand und Vertrauen in die Zukunft zurückbringen können. Aber uns ist eine Zuflucht geblieben – unsere Liebe und unser Glaube an die Malerei als eine eigene Welt. In dieser Ausstellung wollen wir über die Grenzen dieser Welt nachdenken.

Gagik und ich haben uns 2019 bei einer Vernissage in der Galerie Taube kennengelernt. Gagik war schon öfter in Berlin gewesen und war eingeladen worden, am Dezembersalon der Galerie Taube teilzunehmen. Wie sich herausstellen sollte, war es der letzte Dezembersalon: Im nächsten Jahr wurden wegen der Covid-Pandemie die Grenzen dichtgemacht und künstlerischer Austausch verlangsamte sich drastisch. Im Februar 2022 fielen Bomben auf die Ukraine und Gagik beschloss, sein neues Zuhause, sein Atelier, seine Bibliothek und seine Kunstwerke zu verlassen, um seine Familie zu retten. (Der Krieg begann plötzlich und heimtückisch. Moderne Raketen können jeden Punkt des Landes erreichen, niemand ist sicher). Das malerische Uschhorod, wo Gagik mit seiner jungen Frau und seiner Tochter lebte, liegt an der Grenze zur Slowakei. Ich bot an, mit dem Auto zu kommen und meinen Kollegen an der Grenze abzuholen. Viele Länder von der Schweiz bis Kanada luden die Ukrainer ein, aber Berlin war Gagik bereits vertraut, und er ließ sich mit seiner Familie in der deutschen Hauptstadt nieder.

Ich betreibe zusammen mit meinem Kollegen Andreas Wolf im Berliner Bezirk Pankow die Galerie Wolf & Galentz, und wir kamen nicht umhin, die Situation nach dem Ausbruch der militärischen Aggression zu reflektieren. Im Juni 2022 boten wir der Öffentlichkeit die Gruppenausstellung Kommentare zur Verrat und Gewalt. Gagik stand als Maler im Mittelpunkt dieses Projekts. Gleichzeitig konnten wir nicht erwarten, dass der 69-jährige Künstler in der Lage sein würde, sofort neue Werke für die Ausstellung zu produzieren. Nach seiner Ankunft in Berlin musste Gagik in einem langen Prozess eine Unterkunft für seine Familie, eine Schule für seine Tochter finden und Papierkram erledigen. Gagik brachte aber seine Erfahrung und seine Vision von Kunst mit nach Deutschland und kommentierte meisterhaft die Werke zahlreicher Künstler verschiedener Generationen und aus verschiedenen Ländern stammend in unserer Gruppenausstellung. Gagik nimmt weiterhin aktiv am künstlerischen Leben in Berlin teil, seine Arbeiten sind leicht und virtuos, lebendig und faszinierend. Diese Freiheit des Ausdrucks würde ich mir auch gerne gönnen. 30 Jahre Leben in Berlin haben mich diszipliniert und ein wenig eingeengt. In dieser Ausstellung möchte ich mir erlauben, auch ein kommentierender Maler zu sein. Neben Gagiks Gemälden präsentiere ich eine Reihe von Objekten. Einige sind gefunden, andere werden im Kontex des Rahmens gestellt, aber alle sind nicht mit Pinsel und Farbe geschaffen. Zusätzlich haben wir – beide armenische Künstler – für diese Ausstellung Vereinte Gegenüberstellung eine gemeinsame Druckgrafik erstellt: Rücken an Rücken versucht ich – ein russischer Staatsbürger und Gagik – ein ukrainischer Staatsbürer einen kleinen Freiraum für uns abzugrenzen. Danke an Berlin, wo Künstler Zuflucht finden und and Andreas Wolf und Toolbox wo Gagik Kurginian und ich gemeinsam ausstellen dürfen.

Archi Galentz, geboren 1971 in Moskau (Russland als Teil der UdSSR), 1989 Studium an der Staatlichen Universität für bildende Künste und Theater in Jerewan, Armenien (Teil der UdSSR), 1992–97 Student an der Hochschule der Künste Berlin, Meisterschüler bei Klaus Fußmann. Seit 1989 über achtzig internationale Ausstellungen, seit 2000 Tätigkeit als Ausstellungskurator, Journalist und Lehrbeauftragter. Gründungsmitglied einer Plattform für armenische Diaspora-künstler „Underconstruction.Home“. 2008 Gründung eines eigenen Projektraums InteriorDAsein in Berlin. 2019 Gründung der Galerie Wolf & Galentz mit Andreas Wolf in Berlin Pankow. Vater von zwei Kindern. Archi Galentz lebt und arbeitet in Berlin.

Gagik Kurginian, geboren 1953 in Eriwan, Armenien (Teil der UdSSR). 1966 Umsiedlung mit den Eltern nach Saporischschja, Ukraine (Teil der UdSSR). 1977 Diplomabschluss an der Staatlichen Medizinischen Universität. Neben der Beschäftigung als Arzt betätigte er sich auch als Juwelier, Sportler und Künstler. Seit 1989 Teilnahme an zahlreichen internationalen Ausstellungen. 2015(?) Umzug nach Uschhorod, Ukraine, 2022 Umsiedlung mit Familie nach Berlin. Vater von zwei Kindern. Gagik Kurginian lebt und arbeitet in Berlin.


Russian and Ukrainian

2024 год может стать решающим. С карты мира может исчезнуть ещё одно государство. Совсем или в знакомых нам границах. После нескольких лет кашмара происходящего вокруг нас, и трагедии, которая в нас самих – это представление не кажется невообразимым. В прошлом году мы – армяне потеряли важную часть своей Родины – Арцах. Демократическое государство известное также под именем “Нагорный Карабах”. Армения в опастности. Украина в опастности. Кто следующий? Мы – художники и у нас нет готовых рецептов как вернуть мир и стабильность, процветание и уверенность в завтрашнем дне. Но у нас осталось пристанище – наша любовь и вера в живопись. На этой выставке мы хотим задуматься о границах этого мира. 
Гагик Кургинян и Арчи Галенц стейтмент выставки

Мы познакомились в 2019 году на верниссаже в галерее Таубе. Гагик бывал не раз уже в Берлине и был приглашен для участия в Декабрьском Салоне. Мы оба оказались и в одной выставке и в одном каталоге. Как оказалсь – в последнем каталоге галереи Таубе. На следуюший год пандемия Ковида закрыла границы и затормозила художественную жизнь. В феврале 2022ого на Украину обрушились бомбы и Гагик решил оставить свой новый дом, мастерскую, библиотеку и работы, чтобы спасти свою семью. Война началась внезапно и вероломно. Современные ракеты достигаю любую точку страны, никто не застрахован. Живописный Ужгород, где Гагик жил с молодой супругой и дочерью лежит на границе со Словакией. Я предложил приехать на машине и забрать коллегу на границе. Украинцев приглашали многие страны от Швейцарии до Канады, но Берлин был уже знаком Гагику и он с семьёй обосновался в столице Германии. В районе Панков Берлина, вместе с художником Андреасом Вольфом мы держали галерею и … не мог не обратиться к осмыслению сложившейся ситуации после начала военной агрессии. В июне 2022 года мы предложили публике групповую выставку …. Гагик был в фокусе этого проекта как живописец. Одновременно мы не могли ожидать, что 69-летний художник сможет сразу выдать новую художественную продукцию к выставке. По приезду в Берлин Гагик попал в долгий процесс поиска жилья для семьи, школы для дочери и оформления документов. Но Гагик принёс с собой в Германию свой опыт и своё видение искусства и мастерски прокомментировал на нашей групповой выставке работы многочисленных художников разных поколений и из разных стран. Гагик продолжает принимать активное участие в художественной жизни Берлина, его работы легки и виртуозны, живы и интригующие. Я хотел бы тоже позволить себе такую свободу выражения. 30 лет жизни в Берлине сделали меня дисциплинированным и немного скованным. На этой выставке я хочу позволить себе тоже быть живописцем – комментатором. Рядом с картинами Гагика я представляю серию объектов. Некоторые найденные, некоторые ожившие в контексте рамы, но все не созданные кистью и красками. И ещё: для этой выставки я – гражданин России и Гагик – гражданин Украины, но оба армянские художники приготовили совместную графику где мы спиной к спине пытаемся вычерчить для себя немного свободного пространства. Огородиться от кашмара 
Арчи Галенц для выставки “Совместное противостояние”

UKR

2024 може стати вирішальним.З карти світу може зникнути ще одна держава. Зовсім, або або у знайомих нам кордонах. Після кількох років , жахіття яке відбувалось та відбувається навколо нас, і трагедії, яка , також в середині нас – це уявлення не здається неймовірним. Минулого року ми – вірмени втратили важливу частину своєї Батьківщини – Арцах. Демократична держава відома також як “Нагірний Карабах”. Вірменія в небезпеці. Україна в небезпеці. Хто наступний?

Ми – художники і ми не маємо готових рецептів як повернути мир та стабільність, процвітання та впевненість у завтрашньому дні. Але в нас залишився притулок – наша любов і віра у живопис. На цій виставці ми хочемо поміркувати про межі цього світу.
Гагік Кургінян та Арчі Галенс про виставку

Ми познайомилися у 2019 році на вернісажі у галереї Таубе. Гагік бував неодноразово вже у Берліні і був запрошений до участі у Грудневому Салоні. Ми обидва опинилися на одній виставці, і в одному каталозі. Як виявилося – в останньому каталозі галереї Таубе. Наступного року пандемія Ковіда закрила кордони та загальмувала художнє життя. У лютому 2022 року на Україну обрушилися бомби і Гагік вирішив залишити свій новий будинок, майстерню, бібліотеку та роботи, щоб врятувати свою родину. Війна почалася раптово та віроломно. Сучасні ракети досягають будь-якої точки країни, ніхто не застрахований. Мальовничий Ужгород, де Гагік жив із молодою дружиною та дочкою лежить на кордоні зі Словаччиною.

Я запропонував приїхати на машині та забрати колегу на кордоні. Українців запрошували багато країн від Швейцарії до Канади, але Берлін був уже знайомий Гагіку і він із сім’єю влаштувався у столиці Німеччини. У районі Панків Берліна, разом із художником Андреасом Вольфом ми тримали галерею і … не міг не звернутися до осмислення ситуації, що склалася після початку військової агресії. У червні 2022 року ми запропонували публіці групову виставку…. Гагік був у фокусі цього проекту як живописець. Водночас ми не могли очікувати, що 69-річний митець зможе одразу видати нову художню продукцію до виставки. Після приїзду до Берліна Гагік потрапив у тривалий процес пошуку житла для сім’ї, школи для доньки та оформлення документів. Але Гагік приніс із собою до Німеччини свій досвід та своє бачення мистецтва та майстерно прокоментував на нашій груповій виставці роботи численних художників різних поколінь та з різних країн.

Гагік продовжує брати активну участь у мистецькому житті Берліна, його роботи легкі та віртуозні, живі та інтригуючі. Я хотів би також дозволити собі таку свободу вираження. 30 років життя в Берліні зробили мене дисциплінованим і трохи скутим. На цій виставці я хочу дозволити собі також бути живописцем – коментатором. Поруч із картинами Гагіка я представляю серію об’єктів.

Деякі знайдені, деякі рами, що ожили в контексті, але всі не створені пензлем і фарбами. І ще: для цієї виставки я – громадянин Росії та Гагік – громадянин України, але обидва вірменські художники приготували спільну графіку де ми пліч о пліч намагаємось викреслити для себе трохи вільного простору. Відмежувати себе від навколишнього жахіття. 
Арчі Галенц для виставки «Спільне протистояння»


Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Film students poster

Video Works | 28.10–26.11.2023

Aalto university, Finland
Students of the Department of Film

Opening: 27.10 at 7pm

Exhibition: 29.10–25.11.2023

Kolonie Weekend: Open on Sun 29.10.2023 from 2–6pm

Julius Repo
Venla Monni
James Coker
Hilla Tykkyläinen
Suvi Hänninen
Sameli Muurimäki


Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

Opening Times: Wed–Sat, 3–7pm | Öffnungszeiten: Mi–Sa 15–19 Uhr

An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed

Foto KAren Koltermann

The Rock
28.07.–19.08.23

Karen Koltermann, Installation

In September 2018, Karen Koltermann took part in one of the rare guided tours to Gorham´s Cave complex in Gibraltar as part of her artists’ residency at Lichtenberg Studios. In the Gallery Toolbox, Karen Koltermann will now show the installation “The Rock,” which is based on photos of this exploration.

Sunday 30.07. 2023, 4pm
Chornobyl Dreams Symposium:
conversations on photography, borders, landscape
, and
imagination | read more

Opening: 28.07.2023, 7pm

30.07.–19.08.2023
Mi–Sa 15–19 Uhr

Toolbox Kabinett

TORNI – THE TOWER

Photo and sound landscape collage of the changes in urban space as experienced from Pasila’s cell tower

The idea for the Torni image and sound collage started when I was a deputy city councillor in the Helsinki city council and a member of the city’s equality committee. At that time, I strongly realised how many things should be considered when building, space, light, sustainability of the surrounding urban nature, movement of different people of different ages, and much more.
From Pasila’s cell tower, you could clearly see the gradual but constantly increasing construction of the environment, and the change of the landscape in different seasons of the year. In addition to photography, we also got permission to install pinhole cameras in the tower, pointing at the sun and the landscape.

Solargraphy is the art of long-exposure photography that captures the image of the sun’s path across the sky. The path is invisible to the human eye, and it is also different in each place on Earth.
When you look at the landscape from the tower, you must be very alert; so many things are constantly changing in the events of the earth and sky. The cell phone camera does not lift or magnify, it shows everything roughly as the human eye sees it from the tower.

When you sat in your kitchen having breakfast in the old Pasila, you saw a lot of green, you could follow the events in the yard and the birds playing. Now, in many new houses, the situation is already such that you can see the wall of the neighbouring house very close, and you can observe what the neighbours are spreading on their toast this morning.

In the Torni collage, we have included pictures taken with very different photographic equipment and with equipment of different levels, without fear of jaggedness. One purpose of the work is to encourage people to record their surroundings in pictures, even if they don’t own any luxury equipment. And that’s what many people do nowadays; the digital age makes a lot possible. Someone takes pictures of the forest they know all year round; someone photographs the birdhouse in the yard, someone takes pictures of their every morning swimming spot through summers and winters.

The collage is also the mind’s journey to the landscape. While the camera follows the changing urban space, the soundscapes, solargraphs, and music recorded on the spot create space for the mind to wander.

You can also look at the collage, trying to spot what disappears and what replaces it.

Tiina Harpf – script, speech, soundscapes, photos, installation of pinhole cameras
Tiina Hihnavaara – script, photo editing
Kimmo Roine, Tiina Harpf – installation of pinhole cameras
Mikko H. Haapoja – music (bowed lyre, keyed fiddle), video editing, sound design*
Orders and more information:
tiinamaaria.harpf@gmail.com
tiina.hihnavaara@gmail.com


Galerie/Projektraum TOOLBOX
Koloniestraße 120
13359 Berlin-Wedding
U-Bahn Osloerstraße

Wed– Sat 3–7pm
An Feiertagen ist die Toolbox geschlossen
On Bank holidays Toolbox is closed