03-12-2024
The Barn: A Visual Tale of Mystery and Transformation
In The Barn, the works of Polish artist Marcin Cienski, now based in America, come together in a haunting yet captivating visual narrative. Drawn from the remnants of previous exhibitions in Europe, including shows in Leipzig, this carefully curated selection reveals a new story interwoven with themes of memory, solitude, and transformation. The central thread running through it all is an imagined mysterious barn.
The barn, a universal symbol of shelter and labor, transforms into an emblem of the strange and mysterious. Its weathered wooden walls seem to whisper stories of lost innocence, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the shadows of lives long gone. The paintings invite the viewer into a world where everyday objects and scenes become guardians of memories and messengers of enigmatic tales. Figures emerge from dimly lit landscapes, teetering between dream and reality, evoking a sense of danger and instability while holding on to what hope remains in their gaze.
In this selection, we sense Marcin Cienski’s ongoing dialogue with history, both personal and collective. Works such as those from the Victory Memorial series reflect the gulf between idealized visions of America and the unsettling reality of its landscapes. Meanwhile, pieces from Late Guests delve into nocturnal solitude, where fears and dreams intertwine. In The Barn, these elements coalesce into a visual essay on humanity’s fragile relationship with place, memory, and the unknown.
Whether it’s an intimate object bathed in nostalgic light or an ethereal scene imbued with supernatural undertones, the works resonate with a tension that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The Barn invites you to step inside — to discover the strange beauty and layered stories hidden within.
Opening: Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 11 AM to 6 PM.
The exhibition runs until January 19. Open every Fri, Sat, and Sun, from 1 PM to 6 PM or by appointment.
Art Partout Gallery, Napoleonkaai 39, 2000 Antwerp
The selected works can be viewed via this link.
More information is available on our .gallery website.