Sensing The Sea - Xiamen

Nordic Contemporary Art Centre, 2024

In her two large paintings Wengel explores the dichotomy of the sea. Looking at its surface – whether flat or wavy, calm or violent – we only see the ‘skin’ of the sea. In You, I Am Drowning My Sorrows depicts sorrows left behind, guilt, and a connection to eternity, similarly to how the sun sinks beneath the line of the horizon in her icon paintings 2024-1-2-3. In You, The Heavenly Light Reflects draws inspiration from a childhood story about a sailor seeking salvation in a celestial light. Both the mountain-like shape and healing effects are also present in Wengelʼs series The Crystal Lamp.

Symbol-like motifs such as mountains and basic geometric forms are prominent in Wengelʼs paintings. Often based on repetitive artistic actions,the works gain a meditative character and a spiritual connotation. She primarily uses found materials – in the case of these two paintings, she recycles old linoleum flooring from a previous work – indirectly questioning the relationship between an artistʼs practice and environmental responsibility.

Text by curators Cila Brosius og Tijana Miskovic.