SCHLEICHER/LANGE is pleased to announce the first solo show in France by the Swiss artist Franziska Furter (*1972, lives and works in Basel and London).

Furter’s monumental black and white drawings play with dual oppositions that force us to constantly re-adjust our viewpoint. Her gigantic ‘explosions’ such as ‘Can’t take my eyes off you II’ (2004, ink on paper, 566 x 218 cm) seem to tear down the walls of the exhibition space. The large-scale drawing ‘Remind me’ (2006/2007, ink on paper, 413 x 208 cm), conceived especially for this exhibition, seems to be a distant view of a landscape lacking any trace of human presence and giving no indication of neither time nor place. Solid masses of black co-exist alongside fragile structures.

The graphic aspect is reinforced by the chromatic reduction typical for the works: the use of colour becomes superfluous, the recurrence of black and white leaves the viewer space for his own interpretation in absence of clear link to reality.

Franziska Furter’s sculptures like ‘Monstera’ (2006/2007, paper, wire, tape, dimensions variables) can be considered in the context of her work as three-dimensional drawings, made up of a fragile black paper structure. The viewer thus enters the space of the drawing that changes as he moves against the white walls of the gallery. Inspired in shape by an exotic plant that was very popular in 1950’s interiors, what was once domesticated has take on a menacing aspect.

The form of ‘Monstera’ changes and evolves with each exhibition and within ‘drift’ acquired a monumental proportion that takes over the entire front space of the gallery.

The third work in the exhibition is just as delicate. ‘Black Hole’ (2007, wood, glue, paint, 50 x 50 x 50 cm) has a triple identity, shifting in perception between organic or mineral structures and cosmic representation. It also plays with an ambiguity of aggressive appearance and extreme fragility. As with the drawings, the object seems to change constantly and cannot be pinned down by the viewer’s gaze.