The Private View of Miguel Kohler-Jan’s works at Gallery Elena Shchukina in Mayfair came on one of the first spring days this year, bringing the sunshine to illuminate Kohler-Jan’s gorgeous pieces.
The exhibition, Miguel Kohler-Jan: Works from the 70s and 80s, is being held until June and is the first ever UK solo exhibition of the deceased artist. Kohler-Jan was a Franco-Uruguayan artist, renowned for his inventive work with texture, colour and numerology.
The Private View attracted many notable faces from the London arts scene including Theo Fennell, Selma Day (editor of the Mayfair Times), Julian Farrow and the award-winning journalist Sathnam Sanghera. The food was divine, as always, and produced by the wonderful caterers, Marc ltd.There were bespoke natural scents to go with the art – earthy room perfumes with names like ‘cut grass’ were created especially for the exhibition by Illuminum and added an extra dimension to the experience of viewing Kohler-Jan’s works.
There was an overall immersive aspect to the viewing of pieces by Kohler-Jan. The works themselves were bold and striking. Kohler-Jan uses colour and numerology daringly. The texture of his muted sand works begs exploration, we managed to resist touching the pieces but it was a difficult distance to maintain. Kohler-Jan’s art is fascinating, the sand works, which draw on pre-Columbian designs, are carefully crafted pieces that demand the gaze.
It was a pleasant surprise to find that the large-scale sand works were the most intriguing of the evening. The pieces dominate the walls on which they hang and force a closer inspection, tiny grains of sand jostle against larger crystals and different colours and textures are forced side by side until they create a captivating effect that simply has to be seen.
Kohler-Jan studied art in Uruguay and travelled the region extensively. He not only represented Uruguay internationally as an artist but he also held the position of Superintendent of the National Commission of Fine Arts of the Republic of Uruguay from 1962-1968. Kohler-Jan’s works have been shown worldwide at exhibitions and biennales and have finally come to London. The exhibition at Gallery Elena Shchukina, Mayfair is one that must be experienced to be appreciated.
Presented alongside Kohler-Jan’s stunning pieces were earthy sculptures made by Katusha Bull. The stone for these mesmerising works is sourced by the artist in Colorado and brought to London where she finesses the pieces. The winged sculpture that dominates the upper section of the gallery is a truly incredible feat of artistry that was particularly enjoyable to view. Bull lives and works in London and is an Associate of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and of the Society of Designer Craftsmen.
The artworks themselves worked in collaboration with the sculptures, perfumes, canapés and beautiful interior to create an enjoyable art-viewing experience. The enchanting guests added to this effect and created an evening to remember.
Miguel Kohler-Jan: Works from the 70s and 80s is on exhibition at Gallery Elena Shchukina, 10 Lees Place, Mayfair W1K 6LL until 6 June 2014.
