photo © Daniel Pucher
Kalina Horon was born in 1992 in Poland, since 2014 has been working and living in Vienna. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow (MFA in Painting) and studied in Vienna over the period 2014 - 2016 under the artistic direction of Daniel Richter and Brigitte Kowanz. During her studies she experimented with various artistic mediums like performance, video, animation and improvisational electric violin music to later fully concentrate on painting, which remains her main occupation. She exhibited her works in solo and group exhibitions across Europe. In January 2023 she spent one month at a renowned artist residency at CCA Andratx in Mallorca.
Artist Statement:
I gained a classical music education during my childhood and teenage years but gave it up in favor of painting, which has been my main occupation for 12 years now. Since 2012, after a few years of preparation course for academic studies in Krakow, I have been developing my visual language in the field of abstraction. At that time, I discovered many writings about theory of color, composition and spirituality in art, especially from V. Kandinsky, K. Malewicz, S.I. Witkiewicz and W. Strzeminski, which deeply influence me until now.
In my current practice, I discover the possibilities of an abstract visual language, based on free improvisation.
I like to use direct forms and colors to achieve a visual power that is often seen in children's drawings, gestural abstraction, cave paintings or graffiti. Finished images are like perfectly balanced pieces of music - all forms correspond with each other, infect each other, to build a final, perfectly balanced structure and aesthetically influence the viewer.
It´s a constant obsession with connecting elements together, creating tensions between them, looking for balance and rhythm that is visually challenging. it´s a continuous play with a vocabulary I developed through the years.
I recently realized how the forms constructing the painting got more structured during the last years. There´s something in a saying that through years of practice, a physical activity becomes effortless both mentally and physically, as if our physical memory executes complex and difficult movements without conscious control from the mind.
Painting is for me a continuously evolving medium of exploration, that enables me to visualize the tensions that are occurring in the world and in society.
“Kalina's intimate world of colour and materials reveals a sensitive understanding of how disturbing visual narration can embrace and produce a synthetic aesthetic that is both daunting and comforting in that there is always hidden beauty in what first appears to be chaotic and displeasing. Her play with contrast and opposites is provocative leaning on irritable as the driving force to draw the observer into her world. “ - Kym Staiff, DOC design consulting international
Education:
2011 - 2016 MFA Painting, Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, PL
2015 - 2016 Transmedia Art / Brigitte Kowanz, Universität für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, AT
2014 - 2015 Expanded Pictorial Space / Daniel Richter, Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna, AT
Solo exhibitions:
2022 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Red Carpet Art Award Showroom Volkstheater, Vienna, AT
2022 In Between, Les Nouveaux Riches Magazine, Vienna, AT
2019 Artist Statement, PARALLEL VIENNA, Vienna, AT
2019 The Power Of Now, Galerie Kandlhofer, Vienna, AT
2017 The (Un)bearable Lightness Of Being, Independent Art Gallery, Vienna, AT
2016 Happy Little Clouds Project Statement, Parallel Vienna, Vienna, AT
2016 Selected Works, Concert Hall of Heutschi Pianos, Bern, CH
2014 Inspired by Compositions of Leon Gurvitch, Concert Hall of Heutschi Pianos, Bern, CH
Selected group exhibitions:
2023 (Upcoming) International Painting Biennial, Chisinau, MLD
2023 Gloves, messing&schwarz, Vienna, AT
2023 olla | about being, Galleria Snow, Berlin, DE
2022 Sommer Zweiunzwanzig, Kabinett Bäckergasse, Düsseldorf, DE
2022 10th Benefit Auction for Delta Cultura Cabo Verde, Atelier Paul Landerl, Vienna, AT
2022 Most Wanted Female Art Auction, Florisdorf Museum of Contemporary Art, Vienna, AT
2021 Welcome (Back) to Campus, Campus WU, Vienna, AT
2021 Verkaufsausstellung, Theartworkersroom, Vienna, AT
2020 XX Art Flanerie Festival - Salon XX, Dessous, Vienna, AT
2019 Art at Home, Home Gallery at Boltzmanngasse 6, Vienna, AT
2019 Wettbewerb für junge Kunst - Erweiterung der Realität, Galerie Amart, Vienna, AT
2019 KUNSTRÄUME 23 - Wir Sind Wien Festival, Dessous, Vienna, AT
2019 Kimono Project - Take Festival, Vienna, AT
2018 The Fall Show, Dessous, Vienna, AT
2018 The Dessous Project Statement, Parallel Vienna, Vienna, AT
2018 Expanding The Void, Dessous, Vienna, AT
2017 Geometry, Lindo, Krakow, PL
2016 The Best Diploma Works of Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, The Palace of Arts, Krakow, PL
2015 Kleinbild, Galerie Kunstbüro, Vienna, AT
2015 NOT QUITE DEAD Part I, U5undvierzig gallery, Vienna, AT
2015 Re-Actions 3, Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Krakow, PL
2015 RUNDGANG 2015, Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, AT
2013 SYNESTHESIA. Music. Visual Arts. Word, Studio Club, Krakow, PL
2013 THE EAST - SALAM IRAN 9th Slot Fest, Rotunda Cultural Centre, Krakow, PL
Residencies:
2023 CCA Andratx, Mallorca, ES
Publications:
2018 Wotisart Magazine #17 (August) , UK
2018 A5 Magazine #17 (August), UK
KALINA HORON