June 25 and 26, 2022 Els Franken exhibited at the gallery.
Els Franken is an avid observer of people. From their attitudes, their looks, gestures and emotions. These reveal whole worlds to her. Els stores these impressions and uses them as the basis for her work.
That work consists of large and small human figures in which certain characteristics or emotions are magnified. You feel and see the emotions and the stories told by the characters. Sometimes Els depicts human drama, other times the glee at all our human bumbling splashes off.
So you can encounter the distraughtness of a guilty child. But also fear, balancing, suffering, dreaming, cramping and shyness. Seriousness and humor alternate.
The sculptures are constructed from different materials. Textiles often play a big role. Els does not always work with a preconceived plan. The image emerges as we go along. She watches what happens during the making and responds accordingly.
Especially for the exhibition in the gallery, Els is creating an installation on a current theme in which she combines spatial work with sound.
