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Olga Balema at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Solo Show «The bizarre space of complex numbers», November 29, 2025 until February 1, 2026

Artists

Olga Balema

Institution

Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Location

Fribourg

Download

Press release (PDF)

Website

friart.ch

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Olga Balema at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Olga Balema’s work explores sculptural form as a dynamic and evolving entity, influenced by external factors and its own internal logic. The exhibition "The bizarre space of complex numbers" at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg showcases Balema's approach to reconfiguring existing works on-site, challenging traditional notions of monumentality in sculpture. Balema's use of elastic bands creates a delicate and almost ephemeral materiality, where forms emerge from repeated gestures and interactions. The tension between rigidity and flexibility in her works reflects themes of vulnerability and fragility, often referencing the body's susceptibility to failure. The piece "Computer," constructed from fragments of a PVC banner, bears physical marks of wear and exposure, highlighting the passage of time and the effects of environmental elements on art. Balema's practice of linking disparate elements through provisional methods like pasting and sewing results in compositions that embody both disintegration and construction simultaneously. Her "Formulas" series, made from polyurethane foam and dyed latex, explores the dual nature of materials in enabling connection and separation. The title of the exhibition, "The bizarre space of complex numbers," alludes to mathematical functions that describe multiple states of existence, mirroring Balema's exploration of structure and dysfunction within rational systems. Curated by Kathrin Bentele, the exhibition delves into Balema's ability to create integrative sculptural forms from fragmented elements, emphasizing the transformative potential of decay and disintegration. Balema's work invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of materiality, vulnerability, and adaptability in the realm of contemporary sculpture.

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Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on 35 (2025)» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on 45 (2025)» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on 44 (2025)» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on 37 (2025), detail» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on 40 (2025), detail» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on Formulas (2022)» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on Computer (2021)» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on Computer (2021), detail» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on Untitled (2023)» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers ; view on Untitled (2021), detail» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg

Exhibition View Solo Show Olga Balema «The bizarre space of complex numbers» at Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg, 2025-2026 / Photo: Cedric Mussano / Courtesy: the artist and Kunsthalle Friart Fribourg