Almine Rech Brussels is pleased to present Weight of Love, Aly Helyer's first solo exhibition with the gallery, on view from January 16 to March 1, 2025. The monumentality of the term Weight of Love often implies an atmosphere of intensity and drama, usually associated with feelings of affection and love. However, Aly Helyer is not interested in theatricality. She is more intrigued by the most nuanced manifestations of such heartstrings as a way to explore the human condition. From expressions over interactions to gestures, her paintings examine relationships and physical acts of touching as the manifestation of love. Without a grand narrative or proposal, they manifest one fundamental question - what is to be human?
Love itself can be a burden, weighing heavily and pulling one down. Yet, it can also feel uplifting and cathartic, elevating us and our emotional state. Between those extremes are everyday interactions and relationships—some simple and apparent, others more intricate and perplexing. And the tangible outcome of any relationship is the act of touching. From timidly reaching towards, brushing against, or carefully tapping someone to affectionate hugs, embraces, or kisses, and confrontational physical contact, Helyer synthesizes these acts of emotional intent into poetic snippets of human complexity. Such tactile manifestations of feelings can be likened to the act of painting itself, where the application of pigments to a surface is also driven by intent and emotion. "The painter's task is to create a physical presence," Cézanne proposed, and similarly, it’s a basic human urge to express and feel a corporeal presence. The ambiguity and uncertainty of emotions and the perplexity of their manifestation are especially fitting in the fast-paced world in which nothing can be taken for granted, and Helyer is well aware of that! This is perhaps most evident in Smile, 2024, where a single figure’s expression flutters between a timid smirk and an almost judgmental stare, with asymmetrical, somewhat illogical features accentuating this vagueness and duality. Helyer generally chooses suggestive titles that heighten the ambiance and intrigue around potential narratives. Simultaneously, they allow the artist’s environment—music, a book she’s reading, or interactions she’s had or overheard—to seep in, adding a relevant, complementary layer to her oeuvre.—Saša Bogojev
