Past Residents
Past Resident2014: The Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Olaf Brzeski
Olaf Brzeski’s practice is rooted in surrealist visions, which he puts into life via film, three-dimensional sculptures and installations. His comments about his own works do not so much mirror his personal interpretation, but narrate fictional stories, illustrated in the artworks or, in fact, made believable through the existence of the latter. This is the way in which Brzeski generates new worlds and their inhabitants.
Olaf Brzeski, Dream - spontaneous combustion, 2008, Bone soot, polyurethane resin and ash, 70 4/5 x 59 x 37 2/5 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Olaf Brzeski, Untitled (from the little orphans series), 2009, Cast iron, chair, 35 1/2 x 23 1/2 x 23 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Olaf Brzeski, Out of love for a woman, 2012, Steel, bronze, oil, paint and wood, 118 1/8 x 118 1/8 x 177 1/8 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Olaf Brzeski, The fall of the man i don't like, 2012, Painted steel, 106 1/3 x 137 3/4 x 82 2/3 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Olaf Brzeski, Untitled (from the little orphans series), 2009, Cast iron, wood, glass and light, 82 2/3 x 35 1/2 x 51 1/5 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Past Resident2014: Rod Bianco Gallery2013: Rod Bianco Gallery
Javier Barrios
Javier Barrios’ work moves in a landscape between utopia and facts, with inspirations drawn from science fiction, visions of the future, technology, architecture, science and space exploration, to mention just a few sources. The inner core of his practice relates to the great philosophical questions surrounding the origin and the evolution of mankind, and the need to find the balance between fact and fiction in this arena. He harvests information from populist medias such as journals, television, the internet, films and books, and it is from a populistic point of view that he utilizes this material in order to throw light on contemporary tendencies. Working in a multidisciplinary way, Barrios creates a dynamic constellation visualizing the complexity of the theme, while his use of materials (mylar, plexi, aluminum, light) reflects the use of material in construction work.
Javier Barrios (born 1979 San Luis Potosi) studied at the National Academy of Arts, Oslo and at the School of Visual Arts, New York. His recent solo exhibitions include Rod Bianco Gallery, Oslo; Akershus Kunstner Senter, Lillestrøm; Galerie Muelhaupt, Cologne and group exhibitions at Galleri K, Oslo; Vetsfossen Kunstlaboratorium; Norsk Skulprturbiennale and Vigeland Museum. Barrios lives and works in Oslo.
Javier Barrios, Event Horizon, 2011, Oil on mylar mounted on lightbox, 75 x 110 x 16 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Javier Barrios, Twilight is Upon Me, 2011, Installation view. Courtesy of the artist and Rod Bianco Gallery.
Javier Barrios, Twilight #3, 2011, Oil on mylar and cut out, 51 x 41 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Javier Barrios, Flaco, 2011, Baboon skeleton with varnish mounted on lightbox, 28 x 39 x 20 in. Courtesy of the artist.
Javier Barrios. Courtesy of the artist.
Past Resident2013: Foundation for a Civil Society
Veli & Amos
Veli & Amos is a Slovenian-Swiss artist duo, based between Ljubljana and Zürich. Their work uses language, codes and the energy of graffiti and activism to draw attention to problems and borders of our present-day reality. They research public space, squats and demonstrations, where they adapt their knowledge into a site-specific art practice. With public art, art on the Internet or art inside the gallery, they deal with how to transform site.
Veli Silver (born 1983, Banja Luka) studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, Ljubljana and the Faculty of Fine Arts, Porto. Amos Angeles (born 1986, Zurich) studied Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich and finished his bachelor’s degree at the Zurich University of the Arts. Veli and Amos have been working as a duo since 2008. Their work has been shown at Museum of Contemporary, Ljubljana; Rotor Gallery, Graz; HVW8 Gallery, Los Angeles; P 74 Gallery, Ljubljana; Message salon, Zurich and W139, Amsterdam.
Veli & Amos, F is forever, 2013, Bands, string, paper, plastic, 471/4 × 313/16 in. (120.01 × 79.25 cm). Courtesy of the artist.
Veli & Amos, Follow the Out Line, 2012, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.
Veli & Amos, Who the fuck is Luka Princic, 2013, Performance. Courtesy of the artist.
Veli & Amos, Youtube, Let's Save the Whales International, Jew Box and Sheep, 2011, Mixed media, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.
Veli & Amos, Signed by Mana Ous Bah, 2012, Street signs, lights, print, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.
