East London gallery Tony’s are presenting crochet street-artist (yes, crochet street-artist) Olek‘s debut UK solo show, and – much like her work – it looks set to be utterly enthralling. From guerrilla knitting a lovely warm jumper onto New York’s famous Wall Street Bull, to being listed as one of “the 25 most important artists of 2011”, Polish-born, New York-based artist Olek is undoubtably one of the art-world’s hottest properties; and certainly one of its most original.
Creating one of her distinctive domestic scenes, engulfed in crocheted objects, “I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone” – complete with eerie, crochet suit wearing, performers – presents a frantic, psychedelic and seemingly lighthearted façade to a work that carries strong subversive undertones of sexism, privacy and modern culture. Powerful, overwhelming and deeply personal, Olek’s installation is an assault on the senses that has to be seen to be believed.
“I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone” runs at Tony’s Gallery, 68 Sclater Street, London until 23rd March.
Gallery Installation,
“Knitting is for Pus****”,
Christopher Henry Gallery 2010-2011
Crocheted London Taxi,
Tony’s Gallery,
London, 2011
“I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone”
Tony’s Gallery, London 2012
Project B (Wall Street Bull),
guerrilla action on Dec 25th 2010,
crocheted acrylic yarn over sculpture by Arturo di Modica
“I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone”
Tony’s Gallery, London 2012
“I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone”
Tony’s Gallery, London 2012
Crocheted bike nr 2 (Poland),
crocheted acrylic yarn over a bike,
Poland 2011
“I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone”
Tony’s Gallery, London 2012
Project C (Astor Place Cube),
guerrilla action on October 3rd 2011,
crocheted acrylic yarn on sculpture by Tony Rosenthal
“I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone”
Tony’s Gallery, London 2012
