Maksla XO Gallery at PAPER POSITIONS Berlin 2025

Stand  # 43
Artists: Liene Mackus, Natalia Pivko, Paulis Liepa

www.paperpositions.com/en/berlin/

The international art fair of contemporary and modern art, PAPER POSITIONS Berlin 2025, took place in Berlin from 1st May to 4th May, 2025, with a unique focus on drawings and works on paper, collages, art books, illustrations and sculptures. In addition to works by contemporary artists, exhibited were also works by contemporary art classics and old masters.
Maksla XO Gallery presents three contemporary artists working in paper media. For the first time at the art fair, Liene Mackus, a young generation Latvian sculptor, is represented with her pastel drawings, as well as her porcelain sculptures in the new ceramics section. Also for the first time, Natalia Pivko presents her surrealistic paper sculptures from the series “Library Rats”, made from abandoned books, and  the graphic artist Paulis Liepa showcases his latest unique paint-works on paper.

Liene Mackus identifies as an eco-feminist and describes herself as a poetic documentarian. Her works are characterized by a deep connection with nature and natural processes. Randomly discovered plants and fallen seeds transform into wandering planets and comets in her pastel drawings.
Using fragile material as porcelain, she achieves delicate forms not possible with other substance. Her sculptures, inspired by seeds found in the garden, or wings of butterflies symbolise the link between natural cycles and the human body, drawing anatomical parallels. The shapes of the seeds, with their potential for growth, inspire contemplation on the miracle of life.

Natalia Pivko’s artistic style is grotesque and surrealistic, combining precise drawing and well-defined shapes with a fascination for animal imagery. “Library Rats of Riga” from Library series made from books the artist found in Riga while living there. “I use only abandoned books. For me, old books are not just a collection of information but also a special kind of creature. Even if I don’t understand the language of the book, I am fascinated by its structure. Page layout, numbering, and illustrations repeat like ornamental elements, forming a distinct pattern. Based on that structure, I create a new one. I turn every single page – it is a deeply meditative activity. Each book has its own shape, paper density, colour, smell, font, language, and history. I hope I give them a new life as animals and birds. Each new creature is unique, with its own personality, proportions, and a name inherited from the book.
I began this series in 2020 in St. Petersburg with a dream is to create libraries in different cities – a large bookcase filled with books, each city with its own special one.
I can't keep up. I have to leave all the time!” – Natalia Pivko, 2025.

Paulis Liepa distinctive and recognisable style employs fundamental graphic techniques, such as collagraphy, cardboard cut, and silkscreen. His latest series, created using his unique technique with acrylic paintand offset ink on paper.“Electrified vibrations in the air or shockwaves from nearby sources awaken primal instincts, sharpen the senses, and soon the world becomes almost black and white, sunsets blood red, and the evening breeze carries the smell of gunpowder. The works are created using acrylic paint and offset ink, achieving slight relief and allowing the light to reflect off the undulating lines” – Paulis Liepa.

Support:
Ltd “Mākslas galerija Māksla XO” on the 10th of April 2024 signed an agreement No 17.1-1-L-2024/189  with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia on receiving support for export assistance under the project “SME Innovative Business Development” co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.