This fall, Galerie Melbye-Konan presents the Ivorian artist Ngoye and the German artist Karolin Schwab in a duo exhibition entitled "Inside Outside". The works, which include paintings, sculptures and works on paper, will be on display in the 400-square-foot gallery from September 18 to November 08, 2024.
The exhibition title "Inside Outside" encapsulates the exploration of the inner and outer worlds through the distinct yet complementary perspectives of Ngoye and Karolin Schwab. This thematic concept invites viewers to engage with the complex interplay between internal psychological landscapes and external natural environments.
"Am I who I think I am?" - Ngoye, 2023
The artist Ngoye asks himself to what extent he is influenced by situations, people and circumstances. He delves into the psychological realm, using the metaphor of the mask to explore human dynamics and inner states. His neo-expressionist style translates these themes into form and color on canvas, evolving towards greater abstraction. Initially, his geometric forms gradually disintegrate, giving way to expressive brushwork that covers large formats. This evolution reflects a deeper loss of true identity in the face of societal abstraction. Ngoye's works challenge the authenticity of social masks, urging viewers to confront hidden aspects of identity and the contrast between inner truths and outward appearances.
"In my work I create connections between the external and the internal landscape - what is visible and what we feel.
The constant search for closeness to nature, the enthusiasm for natural phenomena and their processual nature, also flow into my work in the interior, which explores it in its infinite vastness, in its flowing materiality and ephemerality". - Karolin Schwab, 2024
Karolin Schwab interprets "Inside Outside" as the relationship between humans and nature. She investigates perceptions of landscape and space, emphasizing the gentle processes and movements within the natural world. Schwab seeks to find moments of stillness amidst this movement, creating minimalist shapes and lines that form connections between internal and external landscapes. Her installations often feature circles, which act as lenses prompting viewers to look into the distance and discover their inner narratives. Schwab's work captures the essence of nature and its interplay with human perception, making it a profound exploration of internal and external worlds.
Ngoye graduated from the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 2006. His works are featured in prestigious private and public collections around the world, including the Imago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection in Italy and the Larissa and Harald Falckenberg Art Collection in Hamburg, Germany. He also won the 47th Art Prize of the Société de Distribution d'eau en Côte d'Ivoire (SODECI). His 2023 solo exhibition at Galerie Melbye-Konan sold out immediately. In 2024, he was selected for the "Persona" exhibition, curated by the renowned art collector Harald Falckenberg, and for the "Mouvement" exhibition in collaboration with the French Consulate General and the Institut français (Hamburg).
Karolin Schwab studied art in Greifswald, London, and Berlin under Ai Weiwei. Her works are held in renowned public collections and museums. In 2023, she won the CeU Loves Art Award and a Neustart Kultur grant from the Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn. She was also awarded the Young Art Award for Visual Arts in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2022. Her work was featured in the summer exhibition "Mouvement" at Galerie Melbye-Konan, organized in cooperation with the French Consulate General and the Institut français (Hamburg).
Visit us to experience the profound and multifaceted inner and outer worlds through the eyes of Ngoye and Karolin Schwab.
