Biography

Magdalena Cichon studied painting and textile arts at Burg GIebichenstein, University of Art and Design, while also exploring the scientific mind through the study of Psychology, which she uses to inform and develop not just the figures but character of her work. Her mostly figurative paintings are researching anthropological constants, as well as human differences – with bodies and their various expressions via shape, posture, and movement, serving as symbols for the range of what it means to be human. During her studies, Magdalena traveled to China to deepen her understanding of Taoist philosophy. She developed her technique of blurring the lines of consciousness between an acting subject and external influences and creating her figurative paintings at the center of those two states.

Magdalena is a frequent winner of work grants as well as an exhibitor in domestic and international art fairs. Her work has been seen in China, Germany, France, Italy, UK, and Israel, with solo shows in Leipzig, Jena, Halle, and Berlin. With her Jena-based gallery, she regularly travels to symposia throughout Europe.

Since graduating magna cum laude in 2014, she has deepened her practice and continued to challenge herself by extending the technical vocabulary of her work through intangibles, such as her own cultural philosophy and social justice work, or the distinctly tangible textile interventions used to extend and expand the notion of what a canvas is.

Born 1987 in East Germany, Magdalena went to her first political protests at the age of only 2 years old. This event prefigured the kind of adult Magdalena would grow to be, and the kind of work she would do. Magdalena’s work as an artist revolves around the notion of epistemic injustice within the postmodern multitude of narratives, mirrored in the multiple levels of the abstraction/ figuration spectrum in her work.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

For every section of reality, there are multiple different, sometimes conflicting semantic systems to describe them – humans need to abstract from and categorize reality. Navigating these different versions of how things are presented to us is one of the big challenges in a postmodern world. In a way, this is represented in my paintings through different layers of abstraction that coexist in the same work. The textile interventions are part of this system of trying to make sense of conflicting information – they're an extension of the modes of expression available, they add another layer of abstraction. Often, fine art is being separated from the semiotic systems of other aesthetic practices.

However, there’s so much meaning and information - beyond usefulness - transported through the aesthetic of textile techniques, and an immense potential in layering these with the information systems inherent in traditionally artistic techniques such as painting or drawing. My intention is to extend the spectrum of what I can express through combining both.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibition

2022

BBKarium
BBK Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.
Halle (Saale), Germany

2017

PARACAS
Stadtwerke Jena
Jena, Germany

2016

FEDYA
Federal Art Foundation Saxony-Anhalt
Halle (Saale), Germany

RONYA
Huber & Treff Gallery
Jena, Germany

2015

DUNYA
Federal Art Foundation Saxony-Anhalt
Halle (Saale), Germany

2014

hazard material
Villa Rosenthal
Jena, Germany

hazard material, Diploma exhibition
Gallery of Burg Giebichenstein, University of Art and Design
Halle (Saale), Germany

2013

ANIMUS
Gallery Queen Anne, SpinnereiGalleries
Leipzig, Germany

BAHAMOUT
Huber & Treff Gallery
Jena, Germany

Group Show

2022

Little Piece of
Galerie Intershop interdisciplinaire, SpinnereiGalleries
Leipzig, Germany

2021

Hegel Now!
Uni Roma Tre
Rome, Italy

2020

REA! Arte
Art Fair
Milano, Italy

60 Days Lockdown Life
Luxelakes A4 Art Museum
Chengdu, China

2019

Tba
Juntels Binjiang Hangzhou
Hangzhou, China

2018

Rot Rot Rot
Galerie Intershop interdisciplinaire, SpinnereiGalleries
Leipzig, Germany

International Pleinair-Symposium
Huber & Treff Gallery, in cooperation with Galérie Palladion
Toulouse, France

2017

Malen. Weben. Wirken
Galerie Intershop interdisciplinaire, SpinnereiGalleries
Leipzig, Germany

International Pleinair-Symposium
Huber & Treff Gallery
Jena, Germany

2016

WAND / BILD / TEXTIL
Studio S
Berlin, Germany

International Pleinair-Symposium
Huber & Treff Gallery, in cooperation with Museum Ein Harod
Kibbutz Ein Harod, Israel

2015

Hängung #1
GersonHöger Gallery
Hamburg, Germany

22ND FEDERAL COMPETITION – Art Students Display Their Work
ART AND EXHIBITION HALL OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
Bonn, Germany

2014

Art Fair Berliner Liste
Huber & Treff Gallery
Berlin, Germany

International Pleinair-Symposium
Huber & Treff Gallery, in cooperation with Beit Jala Municipality
Beit Jala, Israel

2013

Art Fair Liste
Huber & Treff Gallery
Berlin, Germany

2012

Wettiner Schule
Villa Bösenberg
Leipzig, Germany

2011

International Pleinair-Symposium
Huber & Treff Gallery, in cooperation with Gallery 113
Castelnaudary, France

2010

ping pang means ping pong
Burg Giebichenstein, University of Art and Design
Chengdu, China

residency / artistic project

2020

Creative Minds Project
in cooperation with MUK Design
London, United Kingdom

2019

Artistic Residency
Juntels Binjiang
Hangzhou, China

2017

Sprungturm-Festival
Hoffart Theater
Darmstadt, Germany

2012

envia.M Kunstkalender
in cooperation with Ondrej Atelier for Lithography
Leipzig, Germany

2010

Saxony-Anhalt on Expo 2010
Burg Giebichenstein, University of Art and Design Halle, with Goethe Institute Shanghai and Fissler China
Shanghai, China