Luca Frei
Two Lives, A Bridge
September 29, 2012 – January 17, 2013

Ausstellung: 29. September 2012 – 17. Januar 2013
Eröffnung: Samstag, 29. September 2012, 16–19 Uhr

Luca Frei (*1976 in Lugano) eröffnet seine erste Einzelausstellung in unserer Galerie mit mehreren neuen Arbeiten. Es sind Serien aus Glas und Holz, für die er hauptsächlich ausrangierte und gefundene Materialien verwendet.
"I rearrange this material, composing them in new configurations and forms, allowing for new imageries and narratives to emerge. What comes out is informed by the object I select and ’our’ particular negotiation in that particular moment as we accompany each other in this process of recomposition." Ein Beispiel dafür ist "Stitched" (2012), eine achtteilige Serie aus alten Glasscheiben (50x40 cm). Durch einen kleinen Schnitt und Druck erzeugt er Brüche im Glas, sodass zwei bis drei Scherben entstehen. Die Bruchstücke verbindet er erneut mit Kupfer und Blei. Das Ergebnis sind fragile Glasobjekte, die in zwei Reihen übereinander gezeigt werden. Die Linien und Brüche entstehen an den "Schwachstellen" im Material – Bleinähte halten die zufällig entstandenen Teile zusammen.

Ähnlich arbeitet Luca Frei in den beiden Zeichnungen "Threads" (2012). Er setzt einen Tuscheklecks aufs Papier und pustet die Flüssigkeit so, dass eine Linie entsteht, die er nur bedingt kontrollieren kann. Die Tuschelinie bahnt sich ihren Weg zu dem Bild einer römischen Statuette, die die Linie hält oder zeichnet. Luca Freis Zeichnungen und Collagen sind oft Vexierbildern ähnlich.

Bekannt wurde Luca Frei durch seine Raumgestaltungen, in denen er eine Bewusstheit für den Raum schafft in welchem sich der Betrachter befindet. Unseren Ausstellungsraum thematisiert er in der Bodeninstallation "D- 10785" (2010 – 2012). Sie besteht aus 14 aneinander gereihte Rundhölzer (je 2,40 m lang), die mit ebenso langen Ketten verbunden sind. Die Gesamtlänge von "D- 10785" beträgt 64,80 Meter – das Publikum kann die Positionen der Stöcke beliebig im Raum verändern.

"Ambush", "Passage", "Individuation", and "Resonance" (2012) bilden eine Gruppe von vier großformatigen, schwarzen Holzpanelen, auf die Holzreste montiert sind. Die Objektcollagen erinnern an musikalische Notationen, die im Spiel mit dem Material entstehen. Luca Frei beschreibt seine Arbeitsmethode als Interaktion zwischen sich selbst und dem Material. In diesem Prozess ist er offen für Dinge und Bildassoziationen, die er nur bedingt beabsichtigt. Er schreibt: "Rather than proposing a clear or tight conceptual framework, I think the exhibition is more about work and the process of making, its implications in relation to time, space, memory. The works in the exhibition are also informed by my wish to deal with material and to enter in dialogue with it, this is something clear in most of the works presented. All of them are about process, meditative and playful."

Exhibition: September 29, 2012 – January 17, 2013
Opening: Saturday, September 29, 2012, 4–7 pm

Galerie Wien Lukatsch presents a solo exhibition by Luca Frei (*1976 in Lugano). Several new works will be shown where the use of discarded and found material predominates. "I rearrange this material, opening for new configurations and forms, allowing for new imageries and narratives to emerge. What comes out is informed by the material I engage with and ’our’ particular negotiation in that particular moment as we accompany each other in this process of recomposition."
"Stitched" (2012), for example, is a series of eight panes of glass (50x40 cm each). Fractures in the glass are produced by small cuts so that two or three distinct parts emerge, which are then recombined again with copper foil and lead. This fragile composition of glass objects is displayed in two rows on top of each other. The lines and breakages arise at weak spots of the material. What we see are seams of lead clinging together the different parts, which were built by coincidence.

A similar method is used in the diptych "Threads" (2012). Black ink is blobbed on paper and blown over it by the artist so that lines occur, but there is a limited possibility to control their way. The lines arise from two hands working with clay and grow up to a Roman figurine of a girl playing. This statuette seems to hold or weave these lines. Luca Frei’s drawings and collages often resemble visual rebuses.

Luca Frei became known for creating spatial situations in which the visitor becomes aware of the distinct features of the room. In his installation "D-10785" (2010 – 2012), which consists of a sequence of 14 wooden doweling (each 2,40 metre) and chains connected together, Frei is again concentrating on the exhibition space. The visitors are invited to freely interact with the 64,80 metre long work.

"Ambush", "Passage", "Individuation", and "Resonance" (2012) are a group of four large-format wooden panels onto which left over pieces of wood are mounted. This collage of objects resembles musical notations, which are developed by playing with the material and are open. Luca Frei describes his working method as interaction between himself and the material. In this process he is open for events and picture associations, which are only partly intended and influenced by him. He writes: "Rather than proposing a clear or tight conceptual framework, I think the exhibition is more about work and the process of making, its implications in relation to time, space, memory. The works in the exhibition are also informed by my wish to deal with material and to enter in dialogue with it, this is something clear in most of the works presented. All of them are about process, meditative and playful."