Metaphors of Transformation: Varadi and Fulop at Kapow Gallery
By Emireth Herrera Valdés
Kapow Gallery presents a two-artist show featuring Brigitta Varadi and Peter Fulop. Varadi's work pays homage to the labor of sheep farming communities, both past and present, including her own family's roots in the Carpathian Mountains. Fulop's current body of work explores the self in relation to the surrounding natural, social, and emotional elements, reflecting on the adaptability of personal perception.
Installation view, Brigitta Varadi and Peter Fulop at Kapow Gallery,Photo credit Alon Koppel.
Upon entering Kapow Gallery, visitors are immediately immersed in the tangible essence of Varadi and Fulop's work. Dominating the main wall, With their backs to the mountains (2024). 'With Their Back to the Mountain' 2024 was commissioned, and supported by River Valley Arts Collective, in collaboration with the Al Held Foundation and curator Marisa Espe. The work was supported, in part, by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant. This piece is a striking large-scale felted piece crafted from undyed American Karakul sheep wool sourced from Turkana Farms. The work exudes a palpable sense of heaviness, with its aesthetic appeal lying in the wool's natural hues, subtly revealing the age of the sheep. By working with the life cycle of wool and acknowledging its beauty, Varadi invites us to reflect on life's rhythms, where shifts in the wool's color symbolize essential transitions. According to the artist, this work alludes to a "hunia," a traditional Carpathian wool garment worn as protection against the severe mountain climate and as ceremonial dress. This piece extends across a square surface, cascading like a curtain, showcasing its weightiness and finishing in shades of light gray that almost turn white. Presenting various shades of brown in its wool, the work captures the viewer's attention not only for its size but also for the details of each fold and the curves softened by the sheep wool, suggesting movement. The organic quality of these pieces breathes life into the work, emphasizing the celebration of the traditions referenced by the artist.
Positioned on pedestals at various heights and strategically placed throughout the gallery, Fulop's sculptures engage in an intimate dialogue with Varadi's body of work. Each piece stands out for its distinct aesthetic and materiality. The work Bonded, (2024) prominently displayed on the floor, immediately catches the eye. Its shape subtly evokes ram horns, while its golden color accentuates the textures of its surface. The undulating silhouette gracefully extends into the air, playing a crucial role in allowing observers to appreciate its curves and the three points of support that culminate in a rounded form. Through this piece, Peter explores feminine elements within the body, pushing boundaries in gender identity and the fluidity of roles. The skeletal form of a ram's head symbolizes the erosion of traditional values, marking a departure from rigid societal norms.
Brigitta Varadi- Peter Fulop, Primordial (2024), ceramic, Raw American Karakul sheep wool from Turkana Farms, Merino wool, silk gauze, wood, W:18 x D:18 x H:56 ½ inches
**** Photo credit for the other installation view:
Installation view, Brigitta Varadi and Peter Fulop at Kapow Gallery, Photo credit Alon Koppel.
Installation view, Brigitta Varadi and Peter Fulop at Kapow Gallery, Photo credit Alon Koppel.
Perseverance, (2024) crafted from ceramic, gleams with a silvery sheen reminiscent of the architectural forms found in urban landscapes. Its cylindrical shape unfolds through two bodies, culminating in a thicker top. This sculpture explores the concept of a matrix or network, where each starting point interconnects within a woven web of consciousness. Using clay, Peter molds structures shaped like USBs, symbolic of the digital era and the continual emergence of fresh concepts and architectures.
The exhibition culminates with the work Primordial, (2024) a collaborative work by Varadi and Fulop. Crafted from raw American Karakul sheep wool sourced from Turkana Farms, the base exudes a natural gray hue that speaks to the maturity of the sheep. Above this foundation, white ceramic volumes of various shapes and sizes emerge, creating an energetic combination of materials. This work represents an intuitive moment, where Peter Fulop responds to Brigitta Varadi's oeuvre. His assemblage embodies a process that resonates visually, symbolically, and metaphorically. Referencing the life cycle of sheep—from their birth with black, curly coats to the gradual graying with age—the artwork explores themes of time's passage, identity evolution, and the interconnectedness of nature and human experience, echoing the broader narratives explored throughout the exhibition.
The Varadi - Fulop exhibition at Kapow Gallery merges tradition with modern themes. Varadi honors sheep farming while Fulop explores personal and societal dynamics, encouraging reflection on our relationship with nature and contemporary life. This show is on view at Kapow Gallery. July 2024. Monroe 23, NYC 10002
Peter Fulop, Bonded, 2024, ceramic H:9 1⁄2 inches x W:10 1⁄2 x D:17 Photo courtesy of the artist
