SY LV I A N A I M A R K
SYLVIA NAIMARK Dog Secret February 15 - March 31, 2018
SYLVIA NAIMARK | ARTIST STATEMENT
It is really a title of a painting; there is no other meaning, necessarily. I love dogs. Sometimes they are just there. Or a gazelle, a bird, or another animal. An encounter with The Other, with something you do not want to recognize in yourself, a reaction or alienation. Animals often avoid humans – or they just don’t care. They appear as bearers of serene messages. Animals represent the inner and most intimate way of handling others and ourselves. For Jacques Lacan – it should be no surprise – what separates that which we call human and that which we call animal, is language. It is a difference between response and reaction. They do not have a language; rather, they use a coded system of signaling, which is a fixed program, as opposed to the dynamic, symbolic interaction of the human. Animals, he argues, do not respond to questions; they react to stimuli. In my work I am looking for a way to relate to the world, not for truths. There is no predisposed program – rather a sense of coherence. Painting is my way of thinking – it is about physicality, the materiality of the paint. I explore the mixing of colors and material. Both thin and thick layers of paint, gestures of human character – making marks, direct my actions. In between spontaneity, control, absence, presence, human gestures, light, darkness. Music. But ambiguity and doubt are my most important triggers. There are no answers – you become silent and visualize the doubt. The initial idea of the work is rarely presented in the outcome and if so, it has been filtered through an untraceable maze. One work adds to the next in an unorganized stream of thought and experience. Perhaps they represent spiritual possibilities and bring new meanings to times that were, will be, and will never be. There might be a hidden narrative there but I don’t know and I prefer it that way. I keep my works undefined to myself. It is necessary. A transient memory of another memory can describe life, death and everything else. It is in this imaginary reconstruction of things that I try to create. Together the works present a larger story where each painting is an episode in a tale known to the figures themselves.
Dog Secret 2018 Oil on canvas 15.7 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
What Remains I 2017 Oil & mixed media on mdf board 15.7 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
What Remains II 2017 Oil & mixed media on mdf board 15.7 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
What Remains III 2017 Oil on linen/panel 24 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
What Remains IV 2017 Oil & mixed media on mdf board 15.7 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
What Remains V 2017 Oil on linen/panel 24 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
What Remains VI 2017 Oil on linen/panel 24 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
Can I Hold Him Again 2010 Oil & acrylic on mdf board 47.2 x 47.2 in | 120 x 120 cm
Day Trip 2014 Oil on panel 39.4 x 39.4 in | 100 x 100 cm
Friendofafriend 2017 Oil on canvas 15.7 x 11.8 in | 40 x 30 cm
Elephant 2017-18 Oil on canvas 19.7 x 19.7 in | 50 x 50 cm
Gazelle I 2016 Oil on canvas 13 x 9.4 in | 33 x 24 cm
Gazelle II 2017 Oil on canvas board 13 x 9.4 in | 33 x 24 cm
Transit 2017 Oil on canvas 40.6 x 39.4 in | 103 x 100 cm
Lingering Points 2017 Oil on canvas 41.3 x 40.6 in | 105 x 103 cm
Kastanjer (Chestnuts) 2017 Oil on canvas 13 x 9.4 in | 33 x 24 cm
PausfĂĽgel 2017 Oil on canvas 23.6 x 23.6 in | 60 x 60 cm
Seven Nights 2017 Oil on mdf board 38.2 x 36.6 in | 97 x 93 cm
Singing on Ashes 2017 Oil on mdf board 41.3 x 40.6 in | 105 x 103 cm
Stair 2017 Oil on canvas 19.7 x 19.7 in | 50 x 50 cm
Svävan 2017 Oil on canvas 51.2 x 66.9 in | 130 x 170 cm
Hold Up 2016 Oil on canvas 23.6 x 23.6 in | 60 x 60 cm
Twilight 2017-18 Oil & acrylic on mdf board 38.6 x 36.6 in | 98 x 93 cm
Untitled 2016 Oil on canvas 13.8 x 10.6 in | 35 x 27 cm
SYLVIA NAIMARK
Bornv in Malmö, Sweden Lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden
EDUCATION Konstfack, University College of Arts, Craft and Design, Stockholm, Sweden Bezalel, Academy of Art, Jerusalem, Israel Stockholm University of the Arts, Stockholm, Sweden
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016 “Gallery Artists: Pre-Christmas Exhibition,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2015 “Figuration Inside/Out,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY SOLO EXHIBITIONS “The Stranger,” Färgfabriken Exhibition Hall, Stockholm, Sweden 2018 “Dog Secret,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, 2013 “Nordic Neighbours,” Cité des Arts, Paris, France NY “Recollections,” Tomarps Kunsgård, Sweden 2017 “What Remains,” Ping Pong Gallery, Malmö, Swe- 2012 “Grafiik,” Tomarps Kungsgård, Sweden den 2009 Gallery Operatingplace, Stockholm, Sweden 2014 PS Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden 2008 “Svenskt SSamtidsmåleri,” Edsviks Konsthall, 2013 Härnösands, Konsthall, Sweden Sweden 2012 Tomarps, Kungsgård Kvidinge, Sweden 2007 Galleri Solvang, Stockholm, Sweden 2011 “Walk,” Jakobsbergs Konsthall, Sweden 2006 Life Foundation Stockholm Art Fair, Sweden 2010 Jakobsbergs konsthall, Sweden 1997 Edsvik Konsthall Sollentuna, Sweden Astley Gallery, Skinnskatteberg, Sweden 1989 O Street Studio, Washington D.C. Landskrona, Konsthall, Landskrona, Sweden 1988 “New Sweden 88,” Washington D.C. 2009 KAZ Gallery, Västerås, Sweden 2007 Galleri Solvang, Stockholm, Sweden RESIDENCIES/AWARDS 2005 Galleri Strömbom, Uppsala, Sweden 2000 Galleri Bergman, Stockholm, Sweden 2017 The Foundation Längmanska Kulturfonden grant 1999 Galleri Bergman, Malmö, Sweden 2016 The Swedish Arts Grant Committee Galleri Ölund, Borås, Sweden Mana/Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ 1998 Eksjö Museum, Eksjö, Sweden 2013 Cité des Arts, Paris, France 1997 Galleri Bergman, Götenborg, Sweden 2011 Villa San Michele, Capri, Italy 1996 Galleri Bergman, Stockholm, Sweden 2010 Stiftelsen Längmanska Kulturfonden, Sweden 1993 Konstnärshuset, Stockholm, Sweden Villa San Michele Foundation, Capri, Italy
RESIDENCIES/AWARDS CONTINUED
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2008 2007
2002 “Pingvins,” Skyway Värtahamnen, Stockholm, Sweden
Längmanska Kulturstiftelsen, Sweden Swedish Artists / Richard Wollerts Fond The Swedish Arts Grants Committée Institut Suédois, Paris, France
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Landskrona Museum, Landskrona Eksjö Museum, Eksjö Stockholms Landsting Härnösands kommun SkåneKonst, Landstinget Järfälla kommun Region Skåne Eksjö Museum Jönköpings Landsting Västra Götalandsregionen Göteborgs Landsting Värmlands Landsting Statens Konstråd Kungsbacka Kommun Eksjö Kommun Särö Kommun Malmö Kommun Lunds Universitetssjukhus Huddinge Sjukhus Ryhov Länssjukhuset Jönköping
Please contact the gallery for more information: margolis@nancymargolisgallery.com 212 242 3013 523 West 25 Street New York NY 10001 www.nancymargolisgallery.com
Catalogue © 2018 NANCY MARGOLIS GALLERY Courtesy of Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York and Sylvia Naimark © Sylvia Naimark Photography © Sylvia Naimark All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any other means, electronic or mechanical now known or hereafter invented, without written permission of publisher.