Henrik Eiben: Leap Before You Look

Bartha Contemporary is delighted to announce the forthcoming exhibition, ‘Leap Before You Look’, by the German artist Henrik Eiben. The artist’s fifth solo exhibition with the gallery opens on Thursday, October 12th, 2023, 6 - 8 PM; the exhibition continues through November 26th, 2023.

‘Leap Before You Look’ showcases a collection of Henrik Eiben’s most recent works, exploring innovative forms and mediums and presenting an array of captivating pieces that reflect the artist’s diversified approach. The exhibition's title, which echoes a poem by British-American poet W.H. Auden, introduces an overarching theme of peril. Indeed, Auden’s lines, ‘The sense of danger must not disappear,’ find reflection in the artworks’ acute, razor-like edges, unlikely physics, or enticing tactile surfaces, which conceal shattered glass elements.

Known for his multi-faceted compositions, Eiben’s work traverses multiple mediums and scales, constantly pushing the boundaries of form and colour. Goudon Wanda, a large relief installed on the gallery’s curved back wall, is an excellent example of the artist’s use of modern materials and striking colours. The composition pierces into the space as overlapping planes of coloured acrylic create an active interplay between the work and the viewer.

The innovative use of unorthodox materials, tactically applied, signifies many of Eiben’s pieces. Voyager Wanda, a work conceived of Cashmere, mouthblown Glass and wood, beautifully exemplifies this clever and provocative application. Here, the work invites a reexamination of the intrinsic worth of each material, promoting a discourse that extends beyond aesthetics into societal and philosophical exploration.

This exhibition is devoted solely to Eiben’s wall-mounted and suspended sculptures. Envisioned as a mini-retrospective, it amalgamates creations that have emanated from central concepts within the artist’s oeuvre over the preceding two decades. The display is not a mere ‘Best Of’ compilation but offers a distilled and balanced overview of Eiben’s practice.