· Dutch artist Anne von Freyburg blends popular culture, art history and fashion in her first UK solo exhibition at HOFA Gallery, 2 - 14 February 2024.
· The show titled 'Papillotage' unveils 14 never-before-seen tapestry works by von Freyburg, reimagining Rococo masterpieces by Boucher and Le Brun, with a central stage remake of Fragonard's ‘The Swing’.
· Von Freyburg's diverse exhibition introduces new materials, techniques, and canvas scales, marking one of her most complex showcases to date.
LONDON, 10 January 2024: HOFA announces the inaugural UK solo exhibition by Dutch artist Anne von Freyburg, at their flagship gallery in London’s Mayfair, 2 - 14 February 2024. Titled 'Papillotage’, the exhibition will showcase 14 new and previously unseen textile remakes of works by Rococo masters Boucher, Fragonard, and Le Brun. A central focus will be on a wall installation inspired by Fragonard's masterpiece 'The Swing'.
Anne von Freyburg, Filthy Cute (After Fragonard, young women), 2022, 110 x 150 cm. Acrylic ink, synthetic-fabrics, tapestry-fabric, sequin fabrics, hand-embroidery, polyester wadding and hand-dyed tassel fringes on canvas
The show will feature von Freyburg’s reinterpretations of paintings by François Boucher, portraits by Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun featuring smiling women, and various other small to mid-sized textile works. The centrepiece of the show is a reinterpretation of Jean-Honoré Fragonard's iconic 'The Swing' from 1767. In her work titled 'Oops! I made you lose your head' she transforms the dynamic, placing the mistress as the active subject, dominating the painting with her presence and pleasure.
Von Freyburg is renowned for her intricately stunning textile paintings that both recreate and subvert the works of old masters while elevating artistic practices and materials traditionally associated with femininity. In 2021, she received the Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award, and she was a nominee for the Ingram Prize. In 2022, her work was featured in the esteemed Tapestry Triennial at the Central Textile Museum in Lodz, Poland.
Her new works embrace the quintessential Rococo technique of Papillotage, characterised by multiple points of interest created through light and colour. Traditionally criticised for its frivolity and association with the feminine, von Freyburg reclaims and celebrates this technique in all its feminine glory. The result is a veritable tour de force of colour, texture, and creative audacity. This new shows a significant expansion in von Freyburg’s artistic practice, building on past accomplishments.
Anne von Freyburg, Fantasia (After Boucher, Venus with Cupid), 2022, 144 x 195 cm. Acrylic ink, synthetic-fabrics, tapestry-fabric, sequin fabrics, hand-embroidery, polyester wadding and hand-dyed tassel fringes on canvas
Ideas of female representation, agency and resistance through pleasure and desire are central to the exhibition, as von Freyburg explains, "I have always been interested in freeing myself from limiting thoughts on femininity and the feminine aesthetic by making art that is unrestrained and unapologetic in its use of colour, shape and material,"
She adds, "In this new body of work that is both visceral and seductive, I allow myself the freedom to use any shape, form, colour or material that I desire and take pleasure from, hoping to ignite a spark or even fire in others.”
HOFA Gallery Co-Founder and curator Simonida Pavicevic says about the forthcoming show, “Anne von Freyburg's daring to recreate and remix the works of old masters using unconventional materials, sculptural flair, and a generous array of visual delights defines her work as refreshingly delightful and remarkable. The 'Papillotage' exhibition guides viewers through a mesmerising journey of pleasures, embodied by candy-like colours and seductive textures, all inevitably pointing to the liberated female.”
Anne von Freyburg's 'Papillotage' exhibition is open to the public, 2 – 14 February 2004 at HOFA Gallery, London
Press preview 1 February 2024, RSVP only emmalouise@thehouseofineart.com
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HOFA Gallery
HOFA Gallery (House of Fine Art) specialises in contemporary art by established and emerging international artists. HOFA is determined to feature a multitude of artistic disciplines with an intent focus on exceptional talent, diversity and cultural relevance. Dedicated to supporting rare talent and making their work globally accessible, the gallery works closely with all of its artists to ensure the highest level of excellence and integrity across its locations in London, Los Angeles and Mykonos.
With a unique selection of highly collectable artworks of appreciative value and an uncompromising dedication to art world innovation, the gallery is committed to its mission in cultural leadership. Using new technologies and digital innovations, HOFA pledges an accessible entry point to the market and inclusivity to art collectors on all levels.
HOFA Gallery, London
11 Bruton Street, Mayfair
London W1J 6PY
United Kingdom