Limited to the space of a Plexiglas box or their base, the polypropylene sculptures of Marlies von Soden are similar to a floating ballet of embryos ballerinas. In this poetic chaos of sprawling shapes, something intelligible confuses us. It brings us to the Freudian term « unheimlich » meaning this familiar latent strangeness that we can find in the unknown. We are hypnotized by these flesh-colored intertwining that reminds us both of a moving drape and at the same time a living creature’s viscera. These bewitching figures practice dance to charm the spectator like abstract Salomés in front of Herod where sensuality allows them to take advantage of us. These wannabe-emancipated feminine forms draw from our interiority to stay alive, feed their essence, and break free. Suddenly these attention-seeker figures light up from the inside and unlock another poetic layer. Fiat Lux said the artist, Facta est Lux. The interweaving of a plastic skin becomes of mass of flesh: behold the primordial life form.

“Marlies Von Soden has worked on costume and set design for film and theater for more than thirty years. Costumes and sets create a spatial impression like a relief. Reduced to its essence, it is folds of fabric. Existing for just one moment, it is fleeting in the next. Marlies Von Soden transferred this immanent fascination to the medium of polypropylene: the hardening of ephemerality caused by external influences, holding on to the sensuousness of fleeting moments. The opposition of a rigid material versus vulnerability and nakedness is reinforced by the choice of color. What emerges are organic, almost baroque morphologies that appear to have been born of an internal heat source. The medium seems melted, folded into itself. Tubelike shapes are reminiscent of monstrous calyxes or giant shells marked with curves and waves.”

Heiko Schier (Translation: Allison Brown)

Solo Exhibitions

2005 ‘Négligé Illuminé’, Light Objects, ENBW Berlin
1998 Light Objects, Galleria Blanchaert, Milan
1997 ‘Négligé Illuminé’, Light Objects, Stilwerk, Hamburg
1996 ‘Ossessione Rossa’, Light Objects, Le Case D’arte / Internos, Milan
1995 ‘Designkreuzzüge’ (Design Crusades) , Light Objects, Prediger, Hamburg
1992 ‘Sculture Di Luce’, Light Objects, Jannone, Due, Milan

Group Exhibitions/Installations

2018 ‘Homo Faber’, Michelangelo Foundation, Light Object, Cini Foundation, Venice, Italy
2017 ‘Salone Satellite.20 Anni Di Nuova Creatività’, Light Objects, Mailand
2016 ”Mä – An – Der’ Light Objects, Sculptures, Galerie Apotheke, Kyoto – Japan
Photos + Light Objects, Galerie Hirschmann, Berlin
‘Fashion Art International Exhibition’, Textile Skulptures, Ordos – China
2015 ‘Fashion Art International Exhibition’, Textile Sculptures, Changsha – China
2014 Light Objects + Sculptures, Galerie Tammen & Partner, Berlin
2013 Light Objects, Exhibition at the K2013, International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber (For Basell), Düsseldorf
‘We Create Berlin’, Light Objects, Product Design, Forum Unter Den Linden, Berlin
2010 Light Objects, Exhibition at the K2010 (For Kuhne), Düsseldorf
2008 ‘Interventionen XXVI’, Light Objects, Kioskshop Berlin
2007 ‘Destination: Berlin’, Baby Footprint, Moma Design Store, New York
‘007 Strictly Berlin’, Light Objects, Galerie Der Künste, Berlin
2004 ‘Polypropylene’, Light Objects, Zumtobel, Designmai, Berlin
2003 ‘Négligé Illuminé’, Light Objects, Galleria Blanchaert, Milan
2002 ‘Freiräume’ (Open Spaces) – Installation, University Of The Arts, Berlin
1999 ‘Children Of Berlin’ – Erich Honecker, 40 Silkscreen Prints, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, New York
1998 ‘Design Mit Zukunft’ – Philippe Starck, Museum of Applied Arts, Cologne
‘Salone Satellite’, Light Objects, International Furniture Fair, Milan
1997 ‘Design Mit Zukunft’ – Philippe Starck, Focke Museum, Bremen
‘Objets Du Désir’, Museum Bellerive, Zurich
‘Ossessione Rossa’, Galerie Blau, Freiburg
1991 International Furniture Fair, Light Objects, Milan
1990 Erich Honecker, 12 Acrylic Portraits, Elefanten Press Galerie, Berlin
1989 3rd Object And Design Exhibition, Light Objects, Synthetic Bags, Munich
‘Off-On’, Light Objects, Synthetic Bags, Bremen
1988 ‘Berlin Produkt’ Furniture Design Exhibition, Light Objects, Berlin
‘Monumenta’, Light Objects, Berlin
1986 Artificial Turf Objects – ‘Transit Berlin West’, College of the Arts, Berlin
Illuminated Table – ‘Erkundungen’ (Explorations), International Design Congress, Stuttgart
1984 Bubble Screen, Galerie Perdu, Hamburg
1983 ‘Tragbare Phantasie’ (Portable Fantasy), Galerie Für Kunsthandwerk, Berlin