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Kiparstvo že dolgo ni več samo obvladovanje metjea, temveč je ideja tista, ki je v njem prevzela bistveno vlogo. Tako tudi Poloni Maher, sicer kiparki, ni tuje klasično oblikovanje kipa v glini, ljubša pa ji je uporaba raznih, za kiparstvo morda nenavadnih predmetov. S svojimi idejami in delom jim vdihne novo, anekdotično in razigrano vsebino. Polona Maher se izraža v različnih materialih in v različnih likovnih tehnikah. V prav vsakem materialu vidi potencialno možnost za novo zgodbo. Pa naj gre za papir, blago, volno, keramiko, mavec, vosek ali celo kruh. V delih je vidno veselje do življenja in na tem temelji tudi izbira materialov. Novo nastala umetnina odvisna od premišljene izbire le-teh. Skupna lastnost izbire je "mehkoba", saj pri svojem ustvarjanju večinoma ne posega po težkih in "trdih" materialih. Avtorica je strastna opazovalka sveta okoli sebe, tako da njenemu pogledu ne uidejo predmeti, ki bi z malo umetniške intervencije lahko zaželi novo, od tega trenutka dalje, umetniško zgodbo. Porajajo se nove identitete, ki še vedno temeljijo na prvinskih izrazih. Delovni proces je včasih celo pomembnejši od estetike končnega objekta. Zanima jo človeška figura, a le kot fragment telesnosti, vendar se zadnjem obdobju ustvarjanja oddaljuje od figuralno zasnovanih kipov.
Polona Maher se na razstavi z naslovom Orkester posveča svetlobnim objektom in njihovi ujetosti v prostor. Umetnica Orkester vidi kot telo, telo pa vidi kot napravo neskončnih možnosti. V primeru Orkestra gre za kompleksno telo, ki je krhko in minljivo, obstojno in vzdržljivo, funkcionalno in deformirano. Poleg same umetnine jo zanima umetniški poseg v konkretni prostor. Objekti šele s premišljeno postavitvijo v določenem ambientu dobijo svojo pravo funkcijo. Temeljna ideja je konstruiranje novega objekta, ki nastane iz združitve predmeta vsakdanje rade (v katerih vidi umetnica polni zgodb in vlog) ter steklenih delov lestencev. Le-ti osvetljujejo objekt, oziroma ga obarvajo z umetno, žarečo rumeno ali rdečo svetlobo. V novo nastalem objektu imajo prevladujočo vlogo živobarvni stekleni lestenci, nosilec (stol, miza) pa je sekundarnega pomena. Vzpostavi se svojstven dialog med elementi. V polmrak postavljeno dogajanje le že poudarja dramatičnost novo nastale, avtonomne skulpture, ki delujejo romantično in pomirjujoče. Igre z mrakom in lučjo so preverjeno učinkovite, vendar pa je v instalaciji Polone Maher toliko prefinjenosti in inteligentnosti, da se ji gledalec pusti brez predsodkov zapeljati.

Sculpture has long ceased to be merely a matter of mastering the medium. Instead, it is the idea that has assumed the essential role in sculpture. Polona Maher, a sculptor by training, is perfectly at home with traditional sculpting in clay, but she prefers to use various objects that are perhaps unusual for sculpture. Through her ideas and work she breathes into them a new, anecdotal and vivacious content. Polona Maher expresses herself in various materials and in various artistic techniques. She sees the potential for a new story in every single material. Be it paper, cloth, wool, ceramics, plaster, wax or even bread. The joy of living is evident in her works, and is also the basis for her choice of materials. The newly created work of art depends on the careful selection of these materials. A common characteristic of the selection is "softness", since she tends not to use heavy and "hard" materials in her work. She is a passionate observer of the world around her and is thus constantly finding objects which with a little artistic intervention could begin a new and -- from that moment onwards -- artistic story. New identities originate that are still based on elemental expressions. The working process is sometimes even more important than the aesthetic aspect of the finished object. She is interested in the human figure, but only as a fragment of corporeality. In her recent work, however, she has been moving away from figurally conceived sculptures.
In the exhibition entitled Orkester (Orchestra), Polona Maher devotes herself to light objects and the way they are trapped in space. The artist sees Orkester as a body, but sees the body as an appliance of infinite possibilities. In the case of Orkester the body is a complex one, which is fragile and transitory, resistant and persevering, functional and deformed. As well as in the work of art itself, the artist is interested in the artistic intervention in a concrete space. Only through careful placing in specific surroundings do the objects gain their true function. The fundamental idea is the construction of a new object that arises from the combination of an object of everyday use (which the artist sees as being full of stories and roles) and the glass elements of chandeliers. These illuminate the object, or colour it with an artificial, glowing yellow or red light. In the newly created object the dominant role is played by the brightly coloured glass chandeliers, while the support (a chair, a table) is of secondary importance. A unique dialogue is established among the elements. The semi-darkness of the setting merely further emphasises the dramatic nature of the new, autonomous sculptures, which have a romantic, calming effect. The interplay of dark and light is a tried and tested technique, but in Polona Maher,s installation there is so much refinement and intelligence that the viewer allows himself to be seduced without prejudices.

Polona Maher je bila rojena leta 1971 v Mariboru. Leta 1999 je diplomirala iz kiparstva na Akademiji za likovno umetnost v Bologni, leta 2000 pa je diplomirala tudi na Pedagoški fakulteti v Mariboru, smer likovna pedagogika. Ima status samostojne ustvarjalke-kiparke. Leta 2002 ji je bila podeljena delavna štipendija švicarske fundacije Vordenberge-Gildewart. Med drugim se je izpopolnjevala v Veliki Britaniji, sodelovala pa je tudi na likovnem simpoziju v Romuniji ter na Slovaškem.
Izbor pomembnejših razstav /1996/ Galleria G7, Bologna< Galeria Asso, Nica /1998/ razstava nagrajencev natečaja, Ex Salara, Bologna /1999/ bienale mladih umetnikov Evrope in Sredozemlja, Ex Mattatoio, Rim /2000/ Mladinsko razstavišče Avla, Maribor< Miheličeva galerija, Ptuj< Razstavni salon Rotov/, Maribor>
Homo sapiens za 3. tisočletje, Kibla, Maribor/2001/ Galleria Studio G7, Bologna< Kibla, Maribor /2003/ Hest 35, Ljubljana/ Aktualni trenutek v slovenski sodobni umetnosti, Podgorica, črna Gora /2004/ galerija Arte e Ricambi, Verona, Italija

Polona Maher was born in Maribor in 1971. She graduated in sculpture from the Fine Arts Academy of Bologna in 1999. In 2000 she graduated from the Faculty of Education in Maribor, where she studied art teaching. Today she is a freelance sculptor. In 2002 she was awarded a grant by the Vordenberge-Gildewart Foundation (Switzerland). She has also studied in the United Kingdom and taken part in art symposiums in Romania and Slovakia.
Selection of major exhibitions /1996/ Galleria G7, Bologna< Galerie Asso, Nice /1998/ Competition Winners Exhibition, Ex Salara, Bologna /1999/ Biennial of Young Artists of Europe and the Mediterranean, Ex Mattatoio, Rome /2000/ Mladinsko Razstavišče Avla, Maribor< Miheličeva Galerija, Ptuj< Razstavni Salon Rotov/, Maribor< Homo Sapiens for the 3rd Millennium, Kibla, Maribor /2001/ Galleria Studio G7, Bologna< Kibla, Maribor /2003/ Hest 35, Ljubljana< The Current Moment in Contemporary Slovene Art, Podgorica, Montenegro /2004/ Galleria Arte e Ricambi, Verona, Italy.

Izdal: Festival Ljubljana
Zanj: Darko Brlek, direktor
Trg francoske revolucije 1-2
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
Tel.: +386 1/241 60 00
Faks: 01/241 60 37
www.festival-lj.si

Razstavo je pripravilo
Društvo likovnih umetnikov
Zanj: Mojca Smerdu, predsednica
Kustosinja razstave: Petra Skaberne
Fotografija> Damjan Švarc
Pokrovitelj: Galerija Gallus,
Gallusovo nabrežje 29, 1000 Ljubljana