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