Alicja Biała and the Poisoned Pond. New exhibition at MOCAK in Krakow

In her most recent projects, Alicja Biała addresses the anxiety associated with human domination over the natural environment. Her exhibition, part of a series of solo presentations by artists from the MOCAK Collection, includes two still-developing series of works: Open Bite (2022/2023) and Hyperaccumulators (2024). The exhibition can be seen from 10 October 2024 to 9 March 2025.

The first is a curtain made of copper and zinc, whose ores are mined from several mines in England, Germany, Poland and Wales. The artist applies life-size representations of Adam and Eve to the metal sheets, which she subjects to contaminated water by immersing them in post-mining drainage ponds. The metal curtains are etched by acid, leaving intact fragments protected by varnish.

The biblical motif of expulsion from paradise alludes to representations from ancient art – including paintings by Cranach, Dürer and Rembrandt. Eve and Adam submerged in toxic water become a symbol of the poisoning of the environment. According to the artist, by destroying nature, we move away from paradise: “We were given the Garden of Eden, but we have banished ourselves from it”.

The second series on display, Hyperaccumulators, are sculptural representations of nettles and other hyperaccumulating plants that draw heavy metals from the soil or water. Planting them is one method of cleaning up contaminated, post-industrial sites. The copper sculptures become a monument to nature, highlighting its ability to self-regulate and its role in levelling the effects of human impact on the environment.

Alicja Biała (b. 1993) is a multidisciplinary and multimedia artist working in Poland, the Netherlands and the UK. In her work she experiments with scale and materials, creating a variety of works – large-scale murals, sculptures, paintings and prints. White uses toxic mine waste as an active raw material and incorporates it into her art. She is a graduate of The Royal Drawing School and The Royal College of Art in London.

Alicia White
Poisoned Pond | Acid Pond

Artist: Alicja Biała

Opening: 10.10.2024

Exhibition duration: 11.10.2024-9.3.2025

Venue: Alfa Gallery

source: MOCAK

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