Never The Same, Twice

Piero Atchugarry Gallery is pleased to present Never The Same, Twice, an exhibition that brings together the works of five artists: Anne-Cecile Surga (b. 1987), Malin Bülow (b.1979), Sophia Belkin (b.1990), Mariana Palma (b. 1979), and Alicia Viebrock (b. 1986)– to create a powerful dialogue that explores the malleability of forms and the intersection of natural and artificial elements. Their works employ a lens of abstraction, inviting viewers to reflect on the intricate and multifaceted relationships we share with our environment. Through diverse mediums and approaches– from intricate textile and embroidery techniques to the timeless art of carving from natural stone– these artists offer a profound exploration of the human experience.
The gallery space greets viewers with a multisensory experience of textures, shapes, and colors that seduce the eyes into a deep state of engagement. The works of Sophia Belkin, Mariana Palma, and Alicia Viebrock converge, collectively exuding a sense of dynamism, spontaneity, and reverence for organic forms. Sophia Belkin's dye-painted fabrics, embroidery, and textile collages bridge abstraction and representation, evoking microbial colonies reminiscent of germination, and disintegration. Similarly, Mariana Palma's mixed media tapestries incorporate organic elements like shells and coral, juxtaposed with synthetic materials, creating a dialogue between the natural and artificial. There is a sense of fluidity and controlled chaos in both artists' works, reflecting the tension between human intervention and hybridized compositions. Alicia Viebrock's gestural, abstract piece brings a sense of energy and movement, with vivid splashes of color and expressive
brushstrokes. Together, the works of these three artists call viewers to immerse themselves in harmonious yet enigmatic canvases where diverse elements coalesce into unexpected unions. Anne-Cecile Surga and Malin Bülow's works explore the human body as a central theme, challenging viewers to confront the complexities of embodiment that mold our understanding of the physical self. Anne-Cecile Surga's Untitled, 2024, depicts a contorted human figure, emphasizing the protruding spine. Her choice of marble subverts the traditional associations of the medium, creating a contemporary exploration of the human form. Nearby, Malin Bülow's photographs, based on her large-scale installation, En Caul, 2023, encapsulates the human figure within a taut, semi-transparent elastic membrane made of lycra. The fragility and resilience of this second skin highlights a bodily resistance to the structure with which they intervene, where any new shape can be seen as a state of transition, akin to a cocoon, a phase of rest before complete metamorphosis. While working in contrasting mediums– Bülow with synthetic materials like acrylic and lycra, and Surga with Portuguese marble—both artists reimagine the body as a metaphor for the complexities of human existence.
While their visual language differs significantly, these five artists share a common ethos, challenging us to rethink our assumptions about the nature of materials and the interplay between organic and constructed elements. The works presented in Never The Same, Twice, collectively dissolve rigid boundaries, embracing the perpetual flux and metamorphosis that shape our evolving perception of the human experience.