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[Translated
from Russian:]
EXHIBITION OF NORWEGIAN ARTISTS
While devouring French chocolate (at a French chocolate company presentation) at the Mimi Ferst Gallery, well-known in Russian-speaking circles, I was able to visit a remarkable exhibit. For all the love of the megalopolis for diverse artistic life, Oh! How delightful was the whiff of a European breeze in fine art. This time though, it blew in from the north, but it wrapped us in some kind of uncommonly cozy warmth, both from the organization opening the exhibition and from its guests. I am talking about an exhibition of paintings and drawings atÉ the Norwegian Seamen's Church. Have you ever heard of it?
By the way, the usual features in this church also lift oneÕs mood (believers don't take offense at me) by its steering wheels and models of Viking ships alternating with burning candles in the fireplace and a magnificent tapestry at the altar, etc. It is in this part of the building that the old pastor of the church treats his guests to decent coffee, while from time to time browsing the Internet. It was there that I found this new Scandinavian gallery, Trygve Lie Gallery (317 East 52 St.), named in honor of the first Secretary-General of the UN. The exhibition presented the works of eight Norwegian artists. While it is still possible to remember them, most works here were unavoidable (although that is, of course, a matter of taste). However, the works of two artists force me to exert every effort to rouse the interest of an experienced admirer of fine arts.
The works of Sol Kjok, without any exaggeration, riveted my attention.
My long-standing habit of detecting either the male or the female
principle in a work of art in this case was broken against a monolith
of strong, if you will, fierce, drawing. The creator of this surprise
turned out to be a young woman. I expressed to her a well-deserved compliment about her exceptional drawing skills. Turning out to be more than amiable and an extremely pleasant conversationalist, Sol surprised me again: Her formal drawing education was limited to two classes with professionalsÉ The ellipsis is but a pitiful attempt to emphasize my perplexity from meeting with this radiantly smiling phenomenon.
Leaving to the reader the possibility of encountering Sol's works personally, I shall permit myself to be briefly captivated by the artist's very visual and aesthetic series. Continuous threads of bodies braided into a sphere are filled with some kind of completely Northern, serene Romanticism. The figures, simultaneously supple and tireless, in continuous movement, inseparably linked with one another, resound with a persuasive rhapsody of carefully adjusted dynamics. The drawing endures, here and there touched with color; Sol's works impart total harmony to the viewer.
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