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Art Brussels, Berg Gallery, Brussels, BE

Bricks Gallery is pleased to presentNattsyn/Night Gaze, a solo exhibition by Pauline Fransson, with an opening reception on Friday, January 24th, from 5–8 PM. Spanning the entire gallery, this marks Fransson’s second solo exhibition with us and features a new series of oil paintings on canvas in various sizes.

The exhibitionNattsyn/Night Gazeexplores the connection between the body, the landscape, and the act of seeing. Set in the stillness of night, these works capture moments when perception sharpens or fades, and the landscape transforms into something both familiar and mysterious. Drawing from her own physical and emotional experiences, as well as those of people close to her, Pauline Fransson’s paintings invite viewers to reflect on what it means to experience the world through a body - one that is vulnerable, shaped by pain, and seeking connection with its surroundings.

Fransson brings these ideas to life on canvas through layered surfaces and shifting tones. Her paintings reveal a balance of energy and calm, strength and fragility. For example, inSnowblind, muted gray tones soften into brighter whites, eventually exposing bare patches of canvas that suggest emptiness or clarity. This interplay of color and space mirrors the tension between vulnerability and resilience. Other works contrast bold reds and pastel blues emerging from earthy orange hues. While the soft, muted shades indicate calm and introspection, the sharp contrasts and exposed canvas hint at moments of struggle or release.

For Fransson, painting is a way to express emotions tied to her physical experiences, transforming landscapes into deeply human spaces. Each brushstroke holds traces of feeling, with colors chosen to reflect specific states of mind. When Fransson paints, she paints with her entire being - her body, emotions, and memories - creating abstract landscapes filled with personal meaning. These pieces go beyond individual expression, inviting viewers to consider what it means to see - not just with their eyes, but with their entire selves. At the same time, Fransson challenges the medium of painting itself, questioning how a two-dimensional surface can convey something as complex as human experience.

Text by Amanda Dam, Bricks Gallery, January, 2025