Nathalia Edenmont presents her first solo exhibition ´For My Pleasure´ in Menorca, featuring a poignant selection of works in the newly inaugurated art space Galleria Nicola Quadri in the center of Mahón. The title of Nathalia Edenmont’s exhibition, ´For My Pleasure´ refers to one of her major works with the same epithet, but it also connects to her playful and investigative, moreover austere, attitude towards life.

Edenmont creates powerful portraits that arouse our emotions, but Edenmont’s aim is not to provoke the beholder. The images that the artist recreates come to her as visions or in dreams and as fragments of childhood memories. But, since her images are so beautiful as to their composition, colours and intensity, they fascinate and capture one’s gaze. The time-consuming photographic process demands that everything is perfect, from flowers to models, styling and character, before the photograph can be taken. Edenmont challenges us as beholders by touching subjects that are often taboo in our society. Her photographs lead to debate and raise questions; but who maintains that art always needs an answer? With powerful references to historic oil paintings and religious symbols as well as contemporary art and fashion photography, Edenmont creates contemporary art history that leaves few unaffected.

Nature is also an important source of inspiration, both as a starting point for Edenmont´s artistic process as well as a source of working materials. Her work centers around a fascination for beauty and the thin line between life and death. Edenmont presents a personal series of photographic images where the originals are collages created from thousands of meticulously assembled butterfly wings. Edenmont uses an analog large-format camera to achieve the highest possible image quality, which allows her to enlarge the image hundreds of times. The result is an abstract work with painterly qualities.

By multiplying and then mirroring these photos against each other, Edenmont finds new complex motifs within her own imagery. The abstract works are reminiscent of kaleidoscopes and Tibetan mandalas. The artworks also have references to the butterfly's symbolic significance for rebirth and reincarnation, where Edenmont allows new abstract creatures to emerge.

In recent years, Menorca has developed into a most important summer arena for contemporary art. With Galleria Nicola Quadri´s opening this summer, featuring Nathalia Edenmont´s wondrous exhibition ´For My Pleasure´, the importance of the vivid art scene is further confirmed in the cultural and scenic atmosphere that characterizes the island. Nicola Quadri is a passionate Italian architect and interior designer, who throughout his life, has divided his time between Milan and Menorca. Having completed countless high-quality projects in Italy, Spain and France, he highly appreciates the opportunity to introduce Nathalia Edenmont to an international audience in his newly opened and breathtaking must-see space in the center of Mahón.

Galleria Nicola Quadri, Carrer Jose Maria Quadrado 58, Mahón, Spain
July 26 – October 27, 2024
Grand Opening, Friday, July 26, 6pm – 9pm

Opening times: Mon – Sat, 6pm – 9pm

image courtesy of Wetterling Gallery