Wanda Stolle’s works are hybrids of drawings and objects - the large forms seen on the walls behave in a way like oversized sheets of paper, whereas the smaller drawings seem to carry the more sculptural aspects. The works are characterized by their variation of gray tones: from monochrome surfaces, to the exchange between the lines and perspectives; and from soft outlines to thin obscurities and hard cuts. Stolle's geometrical shapes respond to virtuoso swings, rhythms and curves and the contrast of black against white stimulates extremely lively tones in a sensitively tuned grayscale.
The wall objects are made from large wood panels that have been forced and manipulated into their bends, whitewashed on the outside and graphite coated on the inside. They are like movements suspended and captured in their form - like a falling cloth that is seemingly random. The brightness of the external appearances mixed with the darkness of the interior accompanies the audience’s view of the curves and movements that are constantly folding and unfolding. The stark contrast of black against white creates the ambivalence between the front and the back of the artwork. Undeclared and yet full of potential, the objects lean into the viewer; they are both sensual and provocative at the same time.
Wanda Stolle produces the sublime effect in her drawings using a range of hard tools. The circles, squares, angles, tilts, wedges, trapezes, and symmetries almost mimic the provoked materiality of the surfaces. The actions such as hatching, scorching and scraping open up the surfaces, and in doing so they expose either pure or intense colours due to the multi-layered unique painting materials (shellac, ink etc.). The ending result appears as if the paper is in segments, which contradicts the traditional graphic principles.
The large, space-filling paper sculptures’ "granulation", on the other hand, produces, by the soft and almost invisible movements, an airy tissue that flickers in the light. Stolle’s work does not offer concrete views or image connections it creates new artifacts. Irrespective of space and time they do not dissolve like pictures, suggesting no binding reference planes, but dominantly assert their existence as art objects.
CV
1985
born in Berlin
2006-2013
Faculty of Fine Arts, class of Frank Badur and Pia Fries, Berlin University of the Arts (UdK)
2013
Master of Education
2013
Graduated as a master student (Meisterschülerin) under Prof. Pia Fries
Wanda Stolle lives and works in Berlin.
exhibitions
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018
»passing« R E I T E R | Berlin prospect
»Es zieht vorbei« with Matthias Moravek. Axel Obiger. Berlin
2017
»Bicolor« with Stefanie Kabitzke. LAProjects. Galerie für Gegenwartskunst. Landshut
2014
»set on« maerzgalerie. Berlin
»Prospettiva« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2013
»Exhibition of the laureate of the Schulz-Stübner-foundation« UdK. Berlin (C)
2012
»shifting« Mianki. Berlin
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020
»Before the Dust Settles« FeldbuschWiesnerRudolph Galerie. Berlin
»beyondBLACK« LA Projects. Landshut
2019
»abstraction – re ection - transgression« LA Projects. Landshut
»Sternbild Mensch« Tankturm. Heidelberg
2018
»Fountain of Youth« Goethe Institut Lille. Galerie La Passerelle. Rouen. France
»100« Axel Obiger. Berlin
2017
»Fountain of Youth« R E I T E R. Leipzig
2016
»In the Making« R E I T E R. Berlin prospect
»A Toast to a Ghost« RAE space for contemporary art. Berlin
2015
»Ink« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
»Light and Heavy« Hilbert Raum. Berlin
»Berlin Art Prize 2015« DISTRICT. Berlin
»Upcoming Positions« A Space. Berlin
2014
»Thanatos kann Phönix« Greusslich Contemporary. Berlin
»Helium« Kunstfabrik Flutgraben. Berlin
»Talent« 401 contemporary. Berlin
»ausgezeichnet« Haus am Kleistpark. Berlin
2013
»Master student award from the president of the UdK Berlin« Georg-Kolbe-Museum. Berlin (C)
»Repetitive Pattern Phobia« Atelierhof Kreuzberg. Berlin
»Berlin Masters 2013« Galerie Arndt. Berlin
»Fernordnung« Red Wall Waschhaus Potsdam. Potsdam
»D STRCT R« Projektraum Bethanien. Berlin
»Belastungsmarke« Team Titanic. Berlin
»The shortlist exhibition of the master student graduates« Udk. Berlin
»Master Student Graduate Show« Udk. Berlin
2012
»Preview Berlin Art Fair« Messehallen Tempelhof. Berlin
»Graduate Show« UdK. Berlin
»Klarer Kurs« UdK. Berlin
2011
»free piece« Galerie oqbo. Berlin
»Malen im Speck II« Raum 120. Berlin
»Malen im Speck I« Orangerie Schloss Rheda-Wiedenbrück
2010
»brilliant volume« UdK. Berlin
»tough and rough« UdK. Berlin
»Quo Vadis« Galerie Alte Schule. Berlin
2009
»Talpas Labyrinth – class of Badur and friends« 6. Berliner Kunstsalon, Umspannwerk Prenzlauer Berg
»Take a breath – Atem holen« MK-Galerie. Berlin
Awards/Scholarships
2015
Berlin Art Prize, shortlist
2014
The Goldrausch Womens Artists' Project art IT, Berlin
2013
Elsa-Neumann-scholarship by the federal state of Berlin, Nafög
Master student award from the president of the UdK Berlin
2012
Prize of the Schulz-Stübner-foundation