by Patricia Frischer
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| Lin Utzon |
Now is your chance to get to know three Scandinavian Women
Artist Alchemy
of Form: Lin Utzon, Anne-Sophie Øgaard, Laura Lappi on show at the Madison
Gallery until Aug 23. These artist are all well known in their own countries
and very reasonably priced. This is a
minimalist exhibition, cool in the summer heat and elegant as it reveals itself
to our eyes in much need of peace and unity.
Lin Utzon from Denmark but with pronounced influences of Japan and Mallorca draws you in
with a shelf full of elongated white ceramic shapes with splashes of black. In
other venues, these works are on a large then life scale, which gives a fresh
meaning to pottery. When you add in the very large floral paintings also in black
and white, you get a better sense of how design has been translated three dimensionally.
She is the elder of this group, and has shown extensively worldwide.
Next stop Copenhagen, where Anne-Sophie Øgaard
layers paint, sand cement and plaster and carves back into the surface. Working
only in black and white, usually in pairs, then is also one solitary yellow canvas.
Although we are told she also has an exception blue hue she uses, it is the
yellow stripes on the gallery wall that help to tie the three artists work together
visually.
Laura Lappi gives us the burnt forests
of Finland but tempered by her time in Queens, New York. After her wood has under
gone the test of fire, it is sealed and arranged in vaguely architectural
forms. We are reminded of liturgical shapes
of church windows, crosses, reliquary frames.
Alchemy is “speculative thought and experimentation focused
on transforming base metals into gold, discovering cures for diseases, and
finding a way to prolong life indefinitely.”
Each of these artists is transforming humble materials into fine art. It
might not cure cancer or be the fountain of youth, but it is the good news
story of today’s world.
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| Lin Utzon |
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| Lin Utzon |
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| Laura Lappi and Anne-Sophie Øgaard, |
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| Anne-Sophie Øgaard, detail |
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| Anne-Sophie Øgaard |
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| Laura Lappi |
There is always a viewing of some of the other
artists in the Madison stable and a few works by the artist of the next showing
in September. There is a taste here and more work by RETNA
Love Letters will be on view from Sept 3 to Oct 3, 2025. RETNA born Marquis
Lewis in 1978 is one of the young artist who was helped to transition from street
graffiti to the gallery world. His calligraphy is influenced by Blackletter,
Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and Arabic and Hebrew shapes. RETNA is of African-American,
El Salvadorian, Spaniard, Pipil and Cherokee descent. These mature works
reference his coming of age and the desire for home, hearth and peace.  |
| RETNA |
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| RETNA, detail |
Alchemy
of Form: Lin Utzon, Anne-Sophie Øgaard, Laura Lappi
Madison Gallery
320 S Cedros Ave suite 200, Solana Beach, 92075
On view until Aug 23
Info: Lorna York 858.523.9155
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