SPINNING (NARRATIVE) THREADS IN THE SHADOWS, or the fine line between the personal and... the personal. The work of Ewa Finn

To a certain degree, the sense of this art emerges from the entanglement of the obvious in contexts, from the conscious decision not to employ decorative, conventional symbols of the mysterious. The artist creates her own world, which is inhabited in part by true beings from real life, but also by fantastical mythical creatures. In her realm of images, she also makes space for our little brothers and sisters – animals with whom she communicates and in so doing creates a shared space for all. Whether or not this is an artistic dialogue or an artistic monologue: in light of the moral disintegration among humanity, her voice in the fight for animal rights rings clear and true, becomes audible. 

Her works contain dimensions which, when decoded, do not exactly cause us to reflect in a way that enables us to take heart. The theme here is the extent of violence and the wretched state of humanity in these frightening times. Her art comes to us like a kind of message in a bottle, and is more than just a short letter. It is a specific communication to one particular recipient – to you, looking at the picture at this moment. You are looking at it, but do you also see it? 

Ewa Finn chooses the difficult path of accepting all kinds of otherness; her work exudes sympathy for all entanglements in the conflicts of this world. This artistic analysis of feeling is reflected in a conscious abandonment of intensive colours in favour of matt tones. It is like the tender touch of an awareness of the destruction of the Universe that goes beyond normative barriers. Artistically, this is expressed by a spot of colour, often softened to a gentle matt with multiple white, light blue and aquamarine tones. Even for astute observers, multiple layers of oil paint, applied like a gossamer tissue, appear as a single, light, stroke of the brush. And the light... the light that horizontally extends the space without end, thus increasing the impact of the emotional tension. 

Ewa does not bow to the dictates of fashion in the art world and is not afraid of being accused of anachronism. The ascetic, deceptively simple, almost minimalist style of her paintings, the gentle stroke of her ink drawings, the conscious meagreness of form, make her works easy to recognise. And even if the most subtle of subtleties still needs to be continuously perfected, it is worth reminding ourselves of the classic quote here: It is in limitation that the master first shows himself (J. W. Goethe, The Sonnet).

Yes, there really are life stories that swim against the tide while worlds silently fall apart. Like many artists who are constantly searching for their own path, it was in Berlin that Ewa Finn found the right environment for her artistic observations. Her works point to the most urgent problems of today’s world, yet although they express feelings, they are by no means moral sermons or simple messages. Rather, they demonstrate the possibilities of art in the face of “evil”. If we again consider the quote by Prof. Mieczysław Porębski about “cohabitation” with artists, it is art that needs the experienced observers in order to fully develop its impact. Very often, it all begins with a short and yet very specific moment. This single moment of seeing leaves behind a certain magic of intention. It is something that cannot be defined more specifically, that twists and becomes blurred, and yet offers a broad spectrum of possible interpretations, of creative decisions that cannot be foreseen.

Magda Potorska, April 2024

Solo exhibitions

2011 Club der polnischen Versager, wenig malerei, Berlin 

2015 Dorothea Konwiarz Stiftung, Unter heiterem Himmel, Berlin 

2017 Atelier Maryna Baranovska, Berlin 

2019 48 Stunden Neukölln, Atelier Ewa Finn, Berlin

2021 BWA JELENIA GÓRA, CICHE GŁOWY, Jelenia Góra, Polen

2023 K-Salon, Windstille Nacht, Berlin

Group exhibitions (selected)

2007 Haus am Kleistpark, drei Radikale, Berlin 

2010 Gehag FORUM, Klassentreffen, Berlin 

2010 Atelierhof Kreuzberg, es knallt nicht es rockt nicht, Berlin 

2011 Haus am Lützowplatz, la Cabane*, Berlin 

2011 K-Salon, clair-obscur, Berlin 

2012 Galerie Schwartzsche Villa, Ziemlich graue Seelen, Berlin 

2012 K-Salon, Zeichnungen, Berlin 

2013 Projekt Kino Ost, … davon geht die Welt nicht unter …, Berlin 

2014 Stiftung Starke im Löwenpalais, Survivors, Berlin 

2014 Willner Brauerei, Berlin die Sonne gelb, Berlin

2015 K-Salon, Auf der Suche nach sich selbst, Berlin

2016 Kunsthalle m3, Thermik, Berlin 

2016/17 Gehag FORUM, Berlin 

2017 48 Stunden Neukölln, Morgens, Mittags, Abends, Berlin 

2017 Projektraum Ventilator, Super Power Woman Show Nr. 2, Berlin 

2017 Max-Liebermann-Haus, Wolfgang Patrick Go(o)d Speed, (Gastkünstlerin), Berlin 

2017 Willner Brauerei, Ungemütlich V, Berlin 

2019 Forum Factory, Ungemütlich VI, Berlin

2019 Haus 104 Flughafen Tempelhof, Offen, Berlin

2020 Online Ausstellung – FEMALE GAZE bei Alexander Ochs Private

2021 ALEXANDER OCHS PRIVATE, Female GAZE, Berlin

2022 ARTraumBERLIN, „OTHERS - WUNDERSAME WESEN“, Berlin

2022 ARTraumBERLIN, „THANATOS - GEVATTER“, Berlin

2023 Kungergalerie, Himmelhoch jauchzend, zum Tode betrübt (mit Mara Wagenführ), Berlin

2023 K-Salon, Einfallen, Berlin