Market Art Fair

Origins of the Body: Femininity, Regeneration, Transformation

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Courtesy of Coulisse Gallery and Julia Kowalska

Julia Kowalska and Fabian Bergmark Näsman explore the fluidity of identity, the tension between control and tenderness, and the regenerative processes of transformation.

Coulisse Gallery’s presentation at Market Art Fair explores themes of identity, transformation, and relational dynamics through the works of Julia Kowalska and Fabian Bergmark Näsman in an exhibition titled ‘Origins of the Body’.

Warsaw-based Julia Kowalska employs seductive aesthetics to examine the fluid nature of the Self, desire, and the biopolitics of the body. Her work delves into beauty and femininity within hierarchical structures, focusing on relationships among women—mothers, daughters, and sisters—where tenderness and control are inextricably linked.

This interplay between passive and active roles highlights the evolving female gaze, illuminating the complex, often contradictory nature of female experiences and identities. Kowalska’s evocative imagery invites viewers to reconsider traditional notions of femininity, exposing the pressures and dynamics that shape the female experience.

  • Photo by Pierre Björk. Courtesy of Artlover Magazine
  • Courtesy of Coulisse Gallery and Julia Kowalska

In contrast, Fabian Bergmark Näsman investigates hybridity and regeneration through his sculptural practice. Beginning with a singular “mother mould,” his process involves dissection and reconstruction, producing alien-like forms that blur the line between natural and unnatural. Each sculpture reflects a regenerative transformation, akin to the processes observed in nature, such as a salamander’s ability to regrow limbs. These hybrid entities retain traces of their origins while evolving into entirely new forms, exploring how identity can be reshaped while maintaining a connection to its source.

  • Photo by Martin Brusewitz. Courtesy of Coulisse Gallery and Fabian Bergmark-Näsman
  • Courtesy of Coulisse Gallery and Fabian Bergmark-Näsman
  • Courtesy of Coulisse Gallery and Fabian Bergmark-Näsman

Together, Kowalska and Bergmark Näsman reveal the intricate interplay of intimacy, control, and transformation, offering a profound meditation on the construction and evolution of identity.