On memory, meaning and the purpose of things. We work with discarded objects and give them other meanings than their original, (out of) function. Our dialogue brings us into an exploration of what's left, or rather, what is brought to the surface when our preconcieved notions are challenged. How un-useable toys are transposed into ready-mades, become sculptures. With our work we want to stimulate reflection on the nature of things: when does a swing become sad or can a see-saw provoke, and when does a marble figure become political? How does a scarf become compulsory, and when can one choose to hide, face or hair? Be forced, or able to choose that and our gaze. Our main form of expression is combining different materials and techniques. We will work with classic raw materials, ready-mades, sculptures, video-installations and animations. We wish to use and present the objects from our exhibition Under Ytan/Under the Surface in a new context.

Studio44 is a dynamic, contemporary, artist-run organisation characterised by its diversity and openness to different forms of artistic expression. Currently, it consists of some 30 visual artists who together manage the gallery space (256 + 26 sqm), who show their own work as well as invite other artists to participate in themed exhibitions and seminars. Studio44 cooperate with international artist-run galleries and have exhibited in Beijing, Berlin, Birmingham, Manchester, and New York, among other places. The work process is organic and democratic, allowing different approaches to exist side by side.
Mariana Ekner and Katarzyna Piorek represent the artist-run collective Studio44 in Stockholm at Supermarket, 2023.
They met in 2018 and were inspired by each other's artistic expression, which led to a collaboration that resulted in their first exhibition “Under Ytan, Oko” (“Under the surface, Oko”) in 2020. The exhibition matured from dialogue about memories and reminiscences expressed and shaped through diverse media.
They consistently work with some form of discarded objects/materials which, through small displacements and reworkings, are resurrected as something new, something different. By using recycled materials, they continue their research into creating new and other meanings for trashed, abandoned objects, rusty objects from the playground, toys out of order, or used screen print mesh and video installations.
They examine what remains, or rather what comes to the surface when the original understanding is challenged and ingrained codes lose their meaning.