Alicja Bielawska's Solo Show at Labirynt Gallery in Lublin

Polish artist Alicja Bielawska (born 1980, Warsaw) presents her first solo exhibition at Labirynt Gallery in Lublin, a massive former warehouse that survived Poland's darkest historical periods. The show, titled 'If not here, where?', features colorful sculptures made from what the artist calls 'semi-products'—linoleum, faux-wood veneers, various textiles, cardboard, ceramics, and metal frames. These works, both recent and previously exhibited, evoke everyday objects yet maintain a neutral, ascetic quality. Complementing the sculptures are medium-to-large pastel-on-paper drawings installed on walls, which both inspire and are completed by the three-dimensional pieces. The exhibition plays on contrasts: the rigid, imposing architecture versus the lightness of the artworks; a deliberately disorganized central sculpture arrangement versus the clean, rigorous display of framed drawings. Color and light soften the venue's heavy atmosphere, creating a theatrical setting with curtains, columns, and carpets that invite viewers to move and interact actively. The show runs through April 6, 2017, at Labirynt Gallery, ul. Ks. J. Popiełuszki 5, Lublin.