“In Plain Sight”, the first solo exhibition by Neda Aydin (*1990, Dortmund), showcases sculptures and wall-based works that engage with deviations from norms, disruptions, and the overlooked. Aydin’s artistic practice examines the forces and structures that shape, challenge, and define individuals and societies. Her work highlights the pressure to conform and creates spaces where resistance and irregularities become visible.
Aydin, a graduate of the Berlin University of the Arts (Prof. Albrecht Schäfer), is currently a master student under Alicja Kwade at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts (HfBK Dresden). Among her accolades is the Mart Stam Prize (2024), awarded for her sensitive engagement with light, space, and material in her work Ausharren. Additionally, she received first place in the Federal Ministry of Finance’s Kunst am Bau competition for her project Formschluss, which describes the fragility of infrastructure in times of crisis.
Aydin’s choice of materials plays a central role in her work. She frequently incorporates found “poor” materials with contrasting texture and perceived value, creating symbolic power dynamics. One material dominates, while the other adapts or resists. These interactions reflect societal and personal tensions, which are rendered tangible through her work.
“In Plain Sight” features spatial interventions and textile works that explore questions of norms, differences and the unnoticed. Aluminum clips embedded in the irregular gaps of wooden floorboards draw attention to subtle deviations. These delicate interventions not only highlight physical disruptions but also open metaphorical spaces that oscillate between visibility and marginalization. The textile works continue this exploration by embracing irregularities such as creases, folds, and lint. These details, often dismissed as flaws, become markers of a quiet resistance against perfection. They imbue the works with a poignant presence, celebrating authenticity and imperfection.
Through subtle interventions in material and space, “In Plain Sight” invites viewers to sharpen their perception of the overlooked and hidden, discovering an aesthetic that challenges conventional expectations.
