Michał Budny »Primitive«

Michal Budny is known for his austere yet poetically charged sculptures and objects made from commonplace, „poor“ materials like cardboard, paper, coloured foil, plastic in a subdued colour pallet. Their weightless materiality defies expectation, and they seem to resemble flashes of thought. His works can be very unassuming yet also superbly evocative. For most of Michal Budny’s sculptures and installations the starting point is a word or a concept. His new works—having been created specifically for this exhibition—revolve around the term “primitive”.Budny’s works often refer to the human presence, and his site-specific installations draw close attention to the actual architectural structures surrounding us. The material fragility of his works is compelling, and they very often seem to be caught in a moment of transition—ready to disappear as easily as they emerge. Appearing to have a life of their own, they express the ambivalence that is inherent in every form and confirm the uncertainty of existence.Budny has never worked in a studio, which can be considered a part of his non-academic approach. Nevertheless, for him the tradition of modern art—including painting—represents an important point of reference, which becomes evident when looking at his strong interest in the formal analysis of shape, appearance and light.
Delineating the concept for the exhibition the artist writes about it: “The primitive is genuine. Forthright. Real. It does not maintain any unnecessary pretence. It does not know patience or waiting—it is exactly like it can be shown. The sentiments are basic ones: Simple tastes, sensations and feelings. It is not like you want it to be but like it has to be.
The “primitive” is an ambiguous notion. On one hand it means something crude, boorish with a lack of manners and culture. On the other it is synonymous for spontaneity, sincerity, lightning-fast reactions: Something, which cannot be restrained, which cannot be directed. It is determined in the genes for which fundamental, primordial things are of importance.”   

Michal Budny was born in Leszno, Poland, in 1976. He currently lives and works between Warsaw and Prague.
In 2008 he participated in Manifesta7, the 3rd Biennal of Young Artists, Bukarest as well as SITE Santa Fe’s 7th Biennal. He recently had solo shows at Pinchuk Art Centre, Kiev; National Gallery, Vilnius; Städtische Galerie, Delmenhorst (all 2012), Neuer Kunstverein, Wien; Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Stuttgart; Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf (all 2011), South London Gallery, London (2010), Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw (2006) as well as at the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw (2009, 2006, 2004). Saarlandmuseum, Moderne Galerie in Saarbrücken will present a solo presentation by Michal Budny from May 30 until September 13.
Recent group exhibitions include Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen (2015 and 2013), Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw (2013), Kunsthalle Nürnberg (2012), Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, and Kunsthalle Göppingen, Göppingen (both 2010), National Gallery of Art, Warsaw (2009), Kunsthalle Mainz and Museum Haus Lange, Krefeld (both 2008).