Sophie Von
Hellermann
On The Ground
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Vilma Gold is pleased
to present, On the Ground, by Sophie von Hellermann, the inaugural
exhibition at new premises on Vyner Street, London E2. Staged
prior to the gallery's formal renovation, On the Ground weaves
new paintings into the existing fabric of the semi-derelict
building.
On the Ground takes the form of contemporary iconostases based
on the events leading up to the death of the cult figure Nico.
In a series of part-fictional and part-factual scenes Nico is
depicted alongside Andy Warhol, members of the Factory scene
and finally her son Ari. Hellermann's paintings are loosely
based on an outline of the final period in Nico's life where
she fled Manchester for Ibiza. In Manchester she had lost another
battle against her ongoing drug addiction and sought solace
on the holiday island and a close relationship with Ari, the
child she had given up at birth. She died on the island in 1988,
a brain Hemorrhage, road accident and drug overdose have all,
over the years, been mooted as the possible cause. Her death
remains shrouded in mystery.
On the Ground can be seen as a continuation of von Hellermann's
exploration of the gaps between autobiography and biography.
As with her previous series' based on the missing Russian princess
Anastasia, and German terrorist group member Ulrike Meinhof,
von Hellermann chooses to tell Nico's story in as much as Nico's
story serves to tell her own. As a painter von Hellermann seems
discontented with straight, biographical, depictions of someone
else’s life. Rather, the ambiguity that surrounds her
subjects, especially their deaths, affords her a space where
subject can be confused with object. Each character functions
like a screen behind which her story can at times be revealed
and at others remain hidden.
Sophie von Hellermann was born in Munich and lives and works
in London. She has had solo presentations at Jablonka Galerie
Linn Luhn, Koln, Kunstverein Konstanz, Germany, Marc Foxx, Los
Angeles and Saatchi Gallery, London. Her work has been included
in numerous international group shows, most notably Dear Painter,
paint me, Pompidou Centre, Paris. Forthcoming exhibitions include
solo presentations at Vacio 9, Madrid and Marc Foxx, Los Angeles.
For further information or images please contact Sarah McCrory:
+44(0) 20 8981 3344 or: sarah@vilmagold.com |
Sophie von Hellermann
Disembodied Voice, 2003
acrylic on canvas
250 x 410 cm |