The work of Alicja Kwade (*1979) is inspired by philosophical, scientific and social enquiry. In her sculptures, she engages with models and constructs that inform our perceptions of reality, questioning the potential for subjective and objective knowledge.

“In Abwesenheit” (In Absence) is based on recent works by Kwade that might be read as self-portraits in a broad sense. The artist explores how a person and their physical presence in space can be described: by a heartbeat, an individual DNA code or a combination of chemical elements.

Alicja Kwade studied at Berlin’s University of the Arts from 1999 to 2005 and is now one of the most sought-after artists in the international arena. She has recently exhibited in, among other places, New York, Tours, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Zurich, Barcelona, Shanghai, Reykjavik, Venice and London.