Jonathan Penca at Deborah Schamoni

Artist: Jonathan Penca

Exhibition title: sympathy for the 6-legged

Venue: Deborah Schamoni, Munich, Germany

Date: March 17 – May 5, 2018

Photography: Ulrich Gebert, all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Who is it, who is he, who is she.
She was chosen.
Chosen?
Selected. By the committee.
Is it the chosen?
Yes, it is her!

She looks like she just woke up.
Why is she squinting?
The beams are blinding her.
Amazing what one can make –
from nothing but cellulose and a little spit.
Her wings are a bit wrinkled.
She woke up like this.
All dressed up?
What a thought.
Horrifying!

A change of perspective:

To the costume,
the person is horror.

Yes, people don’t know how to match colors.
I beg your pardon?

My dream always was to throw shade at people.

I don’t know if this desire is
petty
or
horrific.

There is a big potential in both.
For erotic fantasies.
A lot of space.

In the world outside:
A lot of space was subjected to petty desire.
Mono-eroticisms.
Mono-culture.

Back in the toilet:

She stabbed him, right in his heart.
Man eater!
Some people have beautiful wings without even trying.

Does she not feel uncomfortable on stage, with all eyes on her?

The schemes of admirers with their lustful, hungry gazes –
but in the shade:
Envy and malevolence, resentment, disgust, anger.
She does live a life that is rather
different.

How does she cope?

I for my part never wanted to be seen in this way,

I worked in the back, preparing the costumes.
My ironing skills have improved drastically over the years.
And I learned so much about garments.
Do you know Sibylla? I could give you her number.
She makes the most exciting robes.

Every year I come here, I look at all the beautiful creatures around me,
and I think:
I am so glad that this is not me.
A nightmare to wake up one day and find yourself in the center of things.
When things are so bad, would you want to be in the centre?

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2004 (Hainschwebfliege), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 32,3 x 22,5 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2000 (Rosenkäfer), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 32,8 x 22,9 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2011 (Große Kerbameise), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 31,7 x 23,6 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2011 (Große Kerbameise), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 31,7 x 23,6 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2015 (Silbergrüner Bläuling), 2018, Cardboard, paper-mâché, glue, gouache and ink, 37 x 26,5 x 13,5 cm; Jonathan Penca Insect of the year 2013 (Gebänderte Flussköcherfliege), 2018, Cardboard paper-mâché, glue and gouache, 52 x 20 x 46 cm

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2017 (Europäische Gottesanbeterin), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 41,7 x 24,3 cm, 62 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2017 (Europäische Gottesanbeterin), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 41,7 x 24,3 cm, 62 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2003 (Feldgrille), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 31,4 x 22,4 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2005 (Steinhummel), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 33,6 x 26,7 cm, 53,5 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2005 (Steinhummel), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 33,6 x 26,7 cm, 53,5 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2010 (Ameisenlöwe), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 34,7 x 23,5 cm, 54 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2001 (Plattbauch), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 32,2 x 26,8 cm, 53,5 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 1999 (Gemeine Florfliege), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 42,2 x 34,8 cm, 62 x 53 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 1999 (Gemeine Florfliege), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 42,2 x 34,8 cm, 62 x 53 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2018 (Gemeine Skorpionsfliege), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 35,2 x 28,2 cm, 53 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2008 (Esparsetten-Widderchen), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 32,2 x 28 cm, 54 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2002 (Zitronenfalter), (detail), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 37,8 x 27,8 cm, 62,5 x 46 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, sympathy for the 6-legged, 2018, exhibition view, Deborah Schamoni, Munich

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2016 (Dunkelbrauner Kugelspringer), 2018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 29,2 x 23,4 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)

Jonathan Penca, Insect of the year 2016 (Dunkelbrauner Kugelspringer), (detail), 018, Gouache and ink on cardboard, 29,2 x 23,4 cm, 53,5 x 41 cm (framed)