Stargate

9 October - 2 November 2024

JD Malat Gallery is thrilled to announce its fourth collaboration with renowned Icelandic abstract artist Katrin Fridriks, celebrating seven years of partnership with the unveiling of her latest exhibition, Stargate. This exhibition will be held during Frieze Art Week 2024, further showcasing Fridriks' continued exploration of natural forces, speed, gravity, and the cosmos.
(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

(Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

Katrin Fridriks, Spiritual Realm of Interstellar, 2024
Divine AstralTravel, Acrylic on canvas, 2024

Katrin Fridriks

Icelandic artist Katrin Fridriks (b.1974), is an abstract expressionist painter who examines questions about new technologies and polemical scientific research of the contemporary age. The artist explores forces that mould our society and raises controversial and political themes through her pieces. In this new series, we see Katrin explore themes of speed, gravity and the natural forces of the cosmos.
Universe has a specific Frequency, Acrylic on canvas, 2024

Refining Her Process

Fridriks' paintings erupt, bend and fold onto the canvas, creating an effortless liquidity to a medium that is inherently solid. Her abstract forms are created with thick mixes of acrylic that are dripped, thrown and spun onto large canvases using a plethora of techniques that she has developed and refined over the past decades. Known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, Fridriks’ innovative techniques translate complex natural phenomena into dynamic visual forms.
Cosmic Consciousness et Teleportation, Acrylic on canvas, 2024

Stargate

In Stargate, Fridriks draws inspiration from the concept of cosmic portals—drawing from the real-world scientific explorations at CERN and NASA. This series reflects her fascination with the notion of folding space-time and the potential creation of wormholes, like the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, and naturally occurring portals called X-points that NASA has recently discovered around Earth. These X-points, some of which create direct pathways to the Sun and other planets, serve as metaphors for Fridriks' contemplation of time, space, and human connectivity with the cosmos.
Divine Cosmic Gateways, present, Acrylic on canvas, 2024

Power and Alchemy

Fridriks showcases hues of copper and gold, with her Stargate series evoking a metallic allure of alchemical transformation. The liquidity and malleability of acrylic in her compositions display movements akin to magnetic frequencies and cosmic energies. This dynamic body of work confronts viewers with the idea of Stargates—microscopic black holes that could lead to shortcuts through space and time, echoing mankind's quest to unlock the mysteries of the universe.
Divine Cosmic Gateways, future, Acrylic on canvas, 2024

Heritage and Connection

Fridriks’ works are deeply connected to her Icelandic heritage, drawing energy from the country’s awe-inspiring landscapes—volcanic activity, glaciers, and raw natural beauty. Her latest works in this exhibition, however, expand beyond earthly landscapes into the infinite reaches of space, exploring the magnetic forces that bind the universe. The paintings are not just visual experiences but are meant to evoke the physical sensations of gravity, velocity, and space-time manipulation.
Shifting from primary colours and adapting metallic liquids, Katrin Fridriks “Stargate” is the artist’s first artworks to feature copper, bronze and gold in the paint. A mesmerizing collection where the canvas becomes an alchemical crucible, blending the radiant hues of gold and the burnished warmth of copper. This curated ensemble of artworks transcends mere visuals, delving deep into the alchemy of colours and their profound historical resonance.

JD Malat Gallery invites you to step through Katrin Fridriks’ artistic Stargates and embark on a journey through space-time, where copper, gold, and the mysteries of the universe converge.