Dominika Kovacikova: Good For Her

THE BACKROOM presents Dominika Kováčiková’s first intimate solo exhibition in Berlin titled GOOD FOR HER. “My work tries to balance contradictory feelings,” says the Slovakian artist about her newest paintings. Her small format oil paintings combine symbols of purity with disruptive imagery. Emphasizing feminine elements such as ribbons or lace, the paintings include blood, guns and weapons. As much as weapons appear dangerous, the artist rather emphasizes their protective function, making her female characters appear even stronger and more determined, ready to take revenge, protect themselves and overcome their past. The duality of the imagery as well as its interpretation is what Kováčiková indeed strives for. It can be the depiction of innocent characters in a mysterious forest or in haunting environments that evoke uncomfortable feelings. The manipulation of the environment allows one to go beyond the boundaries of the classical depiction of figures and keeps the viewer in suspense and anticipation.