02 May 2013

Rana Begum Manifold at Galerie Christian Lethert, Cologne

We are very delighted to present Manifold, Rana Begum's first solo-exhibition in Cologne. The London-based artist is exhibiting a new body of work comprised solely of white folded steel sheets, which originate from studies in paper.

The vivid colours that Begum applies on the back of the white folded works radiate onto the white wall, giving the impression that the work is floating in space. This new series of work represents a calm and contemplative approach, yet Begum's bold use of colour conveys the electric intensity of the city.

Rana Begum's post-minimal form vocabulary is not only influenced by Donald Judd and Agnes Martin, but also by colourful Islamic art and architecture. Effortlessly taking the vibrant collage of the urban environment and concentrating it through a process of refinement and filtration, Begum creates works, which are crystalline, simple, pure and hard-edged. Begum's work is minimal in its formal language, imposing order and system by abstracting moments of accidental and visual wonder. The multi-perspective quality of Begum's art invites the viewer to walk around, choosing where to pause in front of the work, instead of being a passive observer:

'The soft glow of colour is smuggled into the space of shadows and opacities interrupt the spaces of reflection and the resulting structures are materially stable but perceptually labile. As the viewer moves across the work, colour, light, shadow and composition all shift. Again, the singular object is made plural; the viewer's relative position to it at a given moment determines the specific composition perceived but positions and, hence, compositions are multiple if not infinite.' Murtaza Vali

Rana Begum was born in Bangladesh in 1977 and lives and works in London. In 2012 she received the Jack Goldhill Award for sculpture by the Royal Academy of Arts in London. 
We are happy to announce the publication of our first catalogue on Rana Begum's work, which will be presented during the exhibition opening.

Besides Manifold we will present a solo show with Rana Begum's new paintings at this year's NADA NYC from May 10-12. From September 12-16 we will again participate in Art Rio, Rio de Janeiro.