This sepia-toned painting presents a striking contrast between the central nude figure and the shadowy figures in the background. The composition is dominated by the stark, angular form of the nude, whose pose and positioning on a raised platform evoke a sense of vulnerability and exposure. The muted palette and hazy, dreamlike quality of the background suggest a contemplative, almost ritualistic atmosphere. The artist's distinct style and technique, characterized by a focus on form and a masterful use of chiaroscuro, create a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on the human condition. ...
Joanna Woś's artworks examine the topics of sexuality and power dynamics, and they are created in a dreamy style inspired by the elaborate symbolic language present in traditional painting. By referencing scenes from pornographic films and religious compositions from the Catholic tradition, Woś blends multiple perspectives and spaces into her canvases to depict female protagonists caught in several parallel psychological realities. Her paintings' spectral and figurative scene is full of emotional and narrative intensity. Instead of trivialising sex, Woś portrays its complex power, including its potential for manipulation, danger, and even death, as well as its connection to love and affection. Using a grisaille style and applying thin layers of oil paint, Woś's work evokes the erotic paintings of the 20th-century brother painters Pierre Klossowski and Balthus. The critical difference is that the female figure is not portrayed as a fetishised object but as a conflicted subject grappling with sexual and moral uncertainty. ...
In 2016 Croy Nielsen moved from Berlin to Vienna, where it is located in the beletage apartment of a historical building in the 1st district. The gallery was founded by Oliver Croy (AT) and Henrikke Nielsen (DK). Artists such as Nina Beier, Marie Lund, and Benoît Maire, have been part of the program since its inception, and were later joined by Olga Balema, Georgia Gardner Gray, and Sandra Mujinga. Vienna-based artists include Ernst Yohji Jaeger, Joanna Woś, and Soshiro Matsubara. The gallery has strong ties to the Nordic region, representing several artists from the Scandinavian contries and regularly participating in fairs and projects in the area. ...
