Nana Mandl: Never Enough

24 October - 22 November 2024

  • Nana Mandl - never enough

  • ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

    In never enough, Nana Mandl presents a visually expansive and materially rich series of works that delves into the complexities of modern motherhood, digital culture, and self-representation. Through her intricate, multi-layered collages—composed of fabric, digitally printed textiles, embroidery, and drawing—Mandl invites us to explore what lies beneath the surface.
     
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  • Central to Mandl’s work is her exploration of materials. Textiles, historically linked to female artistry, become a platform where contradictions...
    Nana Mandl
    smooch of the week (Lenny & Hannah), 2024
    textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed
    164 x 114 cm
    64 5/8 x 44 7/8 in
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    Central to Mandl’s work is her exploration of materials. Textiles, historically linked to female artistry, become a platform where contradictions and ambiguities play out. The fabric is both medium and metaphor for the societal pressures and personal identities that weave together in the experience of motherhood. Sourcing inspiration online and mining her digital archive, Mandl seeks images that resonate - through content, colour, silhouette or instinct. These are enlarged and simplified, printed and cut into large paper shapes, becoming patterns from which patterns are cut, forming a patchwork of texture and colour.
     
    Motherhood, filtered through the lens of selfie culture, is a central theme. Mandl draws inspiration from mirror selfies of mothers with their children—intimate, yet highly curated moments of self-presentation. These images challenge traditional depictions of motherhood, positioning women as independent, strong, and self-aware. Mandl critiques the idealised vision of motherhood projected by a patriarchal, capitalist society, revealing the unrealistic, yet culturally pervasive, image of the ‘perfect’ mother.
     
    • Nana Mandl precious perspectives (Celeste & Blaze), 2024 textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed 164 x 124 cm 64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      precious perspectives (Celeste & Blaze), 2024
      textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed
      164 x 124 cm
      64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl sacred situations (Anais+Kali), 2024 textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed 164 x 124 cm 64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      sacred situations (Anais+Kali), 2024
      textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed
      164 x 124 cm
      64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl more selfcare moments (Mia & Juri), 2024 textiles, embroidery and foil on canvas, framed 164 x 124 cm 64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      more selfcare moments (Mia & Juri), 2024
      textiles, embroidery and foil on canvas, framed
      164 x 124 cm
      64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl speaking of (Mafalda & Baltazar), 2024 textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed 164 x 114 cm 64 5/8 x 44 7/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      speaking of (Mafalda & Baltazar), 2024
      textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed
      164 x 114 cm
      64 5/8 x 44 7/8 in
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    • Nana Mandl wishful thinking (Egon & Christiane), 2024 textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed 164 x 124 cm 64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      wishful thinking (Egon & Christiane), 2024
      textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed
      164 x 124 cm
      64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl time management strategies (Hayley & Arlo), 2024 textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed 164 x 124 cm 64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      time management strategies (Hayley & Arlo), 2024
      textiles and embroidery on canvas, framed
      164 x 124 cm
      64 5/8 x 48 7/8 in
      Enquire
  • Nana Mandl, Installation View: never enough , 2024 (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Nana Mandl, Installation View: never enough , 2024 (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Nana Mandl, Installation View: never enough , 2024 (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Nana Mandl, Installation View: never enough , 2024
  • Another key element of Mandl’s work is text. Upon the surface of large scale works, letters are sewn which create a poetic dialogue with the visual elements of the figurative collages. Using rhythm, rhyme and double meaning, the text complicates the construction of meaning and context within the digital and the physical, the personal and the collective and the immediate and the profound.
     
    Mandl’s works unravel how digital culture and technology shapes our understanding of ourselves and others. Evoking the ever-changing nature of online existence, where identity and representation are constantly redefined, never enough invites reflection on the contradictions and complexity of modern life, social roles and pressures. Operating as haptic invitations to see beyond the surface, they call attention to the sensory richness of their materiality along with the tension between touch and image in the digital era.
     
     
    • Nana Mandl what's love got to do with it?, 2024 textiles on canvas, framed 164 x 244 cm 64 5/8 x 96 in
      Nana Mandl
      what's love got to do with it?, 2024
      textiles on canvas, framed
      164 x 244 cm
      64 5/8 x 96 in
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    • Nana Mandl with or without you, 2024 textiles on canvas, framed 164 x 199 cm 64 5/8 x 78 3/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      with or without you, 2024
      textiles on canvas, framed
      164 x 199 cm
      64 5/8 x 78 3/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl my favourite on/off relationship (Vienna), 2024 textiles on canvas, framed 174 x 224 cm 68 1/2 x 88 1/4 in
      Nana Mandl
      my favourite on/off relationship (Vienna), 2024
      textiles on canvas, framed
      174 x 224 cm
      68 1/2 x 88 1/4 in
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    • Nana Mandl why why why why why ..., 2024 textiles on canvas, framed 164 x 224 cm 64 5/8 x 88 1/4 in
      Nana Mandl
      why why why why why ..., 2024
      textiles on canvas, framed
      164 x 224 cm
      64 5/8 x 88 1/4 in
      Enquire
  • never enough
      
    mirror mirror
    on the wall
    it's your call
    your reflection
    facing perfection
    reliable distraction
    from the screaming 
    toddler to hear
    the fits to fear
    the sleepless nights
    the toothbrush fights
    the greasy fingers wiped 
    in the couch
    the ouch 
    it's tough
    and never enough
    never time for bluff
    few moments to fake
    you get no brake
    from mental load
    from clothes to fold
    dishes to wash
    garbage to toss
    meals to prepare
    monsters to scare
    tears to dry
    tears to cry
    sighs to sigh
    why why why
    is there so much
    to care
    to be aware
    to feel unfair
    committed to heal
    and dare to reveal
    because the 24/7
    promised heaven
    might not feel 
    like the perfect deal
    ready to seal
    for real
     
     
    • Nana Mandl leftover painting (more selfcare moments), 2024 digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil 25 x 18 cm 9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      leftover painting (more selfcare moments), 2024
      digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil
      25 x 18 cm
      9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl leftover painting (precious perspectives), 2024 digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil 25 x 18 cm 9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      leftover painting (precious perspectives), 2024
      digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil
      25 x 18 cm
      9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl leftover painting (speaking of), 2024 digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil 25 x 18 cm 9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      leftover painting (speaking of), 2024
      digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil
      25 x 18 cm
      9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl leftover painting (smooch of the week), 2024 digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil 25 x 18 cm 9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      leftover painting (smooch of the week), 2024
      digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil
      25 x 18 cm
      9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl leftover painting (wishful thinking), 2024 digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil 25 x 18 cm 9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      leftover painting (wishful thinking), 2024
      digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil
      25 x 18 cm
      9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Enquire
    • Nana Mandl leftover painting (sacred situations), 2024 digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil 25 x 18 cm 9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Nana Mandl
      leftover painting (sacred situations), 2024
      digital print, textiles, thread, paper and foil
      25 x 18 cm
      9 7/8 x 7 1/8 in
      Enquire
  • About the artist: 
     
    Nana Mandl (b. 1991 in Graz, Austria) studied at the Kunsthochschule Berlin Weissensee and received her diploma in fine arts at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna. Nana Mandl is also a founding member and current contributor to the internationally active artist collective CLUB FORTUNA and winner of the 2024 Strabag Art Award.
     
    In her colourful material collages, pictures, prints and sculptures, Nana Mandl develops possible visual implementations of today's media challenges and excessive demands. Her haptic collages combine elements of painting, embroidery and drawing with forms of communicative-representative spheres of advertising, fashion, pop culture and social media.