I Met Myself in the Forest
Artium Gallery by KKCG in Prague
2024-25
curator © Alžběta Krajčíková
Living surrounded by nature has brought a central theme to Lenka Falušiová's work: the motif of the deep forest. At the same time, this way of life and perception allows her to repeatedly encounter animals. Her artwork is not inspired by any one specific place. It is a collection of the artist's memories, whose new compositions create a unique forest environment. Sometimes, several characteristic places intertwine—a mythical forest, a melancholic landscape, or a place of dreams. However, all these vague places are connected by an atmosphere of silence, which is an important part of the artist's work. The forest is also a place that stimulates the imagination, which is why it inspires Lenka to make various associations. She sees metaphors for the complicated human brain in the details of intertwined branches, and when the branches tremble, she sees ghosts in their shadows.
The exhibition entitled I Met Myself in the Forest presents a series of the artist's most recent works in various formats and three basic artistic techniques: large-format ink drawings and intaglio prints, specifically mezzotints and line etchings. In her studio, she processes memories or feelings from the landscape she has experienced directly onto canvas or a graphic matrix. For Lenka, graphic work is an intimate matter that requires precision from the very beginning (preparing the matrix or working with ink, which has a specific smell). The creative process keeps the artist in constant tension. The subsequent printing is the most important moment for her, as she can directly intervene in the process—changing the image on the matrix, touching it, and experimenting. In the context of large-format works, which have become her main medium in recent years, graphic art has the function and value of a personal diary for the artist, and is therefore an important accompaniment to large drawings.
Authenticity, intuition, and precision are also typical elements of the author's work, which, combined with an unflagging desire to discover hidden stories, result in a distinctive artistic statement. This demonstrates Lenka's intimate relationship with nature and the creatures that call the forest home. The exhibition project I Met Myself in the Forest aims to encourage visitors to realize what they can experience when they find the courage to consciously become part of nature. All you need to do is not be afraid to discover stories about the external and internal – spiritual landscape.
