Helen Frik: Difficult

About

Everyone now and then heaves a sigh, coupled with the wish that things weren't quite so difficult. But what if the difficulties vanished, if there were no complications, and no struggle in order to get where you wanted to be? Life would not be worth living, would it? ‘Difficult' is universal: if there were no difficulty in passing electricity through a copper wire, there would be no heat or light; without death, life would not be possible. Traces of difficulty can be found in everyone's history and because it is universal, everyone has personal experience of it. This paradox lies at the heart of Helen Frik's exhibition and forms the basis of three new, large-scale commissions to be produced for their exhibition premiere in Wales. Helen Frik is a great observer and works with emotionally laden themes. Her work is autonomous and totally singular, whilst at the same time offering the viewer the recognisable. Many of Frik's works have two ‘sides' and are generally about human shortcomings: difficult relationships; the incapacity to communicate; feelings of loss and failure, for example. She collects and combines diverse materials and objects from her everyday experiences: second hand goods, clothes, carpet, pieces of wood. The materials however, never function as they should. This exhibition will be Frik's first solo exhibition in a public gallery in the UK. The newly commissioned work will be shown alongside a number of drawings from the Frik Collection. In addition, Helen has produced a limited edition print for sale during the exhibiton, available from Chapter's Shop. Helen Frik was born in Worcester, UK and now lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She is represented by David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen.