With Special Effect, Atiéna R. Kilfa presents a new body of works consisting of a short film and two large scale pencil drawings. In continuation of Kilfa’s investigation and restructuring of cinematic archetypes, Special Effect homes in on the nondescript figure of a man sitting at a desk. Shot in black and white, the film eerily evokes a timelessness of the figure by bringing it in resonance with pictorial genres reminiscent of various eras from German Expressionist cinema to the golden age of Hollywood film noir, fast forward to its 4K quality of today. By evoking these archetypes, figuration becomes a tool to examine the ciphers which make up our systems and their potential collapse.
About Atiéna R. Kilfa
Special Effect is the first institutional solo exhibition in Denmark by Berlin-based artist Atiéna R. Kilfa (FR). Kilfa works across media such as photography, sculpture, video and installation. In 2022, she graduated from Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main and has recently exhibited at KW, Berlin; Camden Art Centre and CABINET, London. In 2023 she was included in Bad Timing – Or How to Write History Without Objects at Den Frie, Copenhagen. Kilfa received the ars viva prize in 2024.
The exhibition is generously supported by: Danish Arts Foundation, the Augustinus Foundation, Det Obelske Familiefond, Dansk Tennis Fond, Glashofs Legat, 15. Juni Fonden.
About the exhibition program OSLO
Special Effect is the first exhibition in Den Frie’s exhibition program OSLO, which presents commissioned and newly produced solo projects by contemporary artists.
The OSLO program continues Den Frie’s historic function as The Artists’ House where exhibitions have been curated and works have been realised in close collaboration with artists. Den Frie will present three yearly OSLO exhibitions in the sub-level gallery. The name OSLO is a reference to Den Frie’s address at Oslo Plads as well as an anagram for solo.