LIVED TRACES

In a world full of motion and constant renewal, Petra Polli turns her gaze to what often goes unnoticed – to things that have lost their original function. What many see as mere remnants, she recognizes as the starting point for new stories. Her objects are like raw diamonds: rough, unpolished, yet full of inner radiance.
With a fine sense and a mindful eye for the hidden, Polli collects aesthetically intriguing finds – remnants of everyday life marked by use and time. These objects carry stories within them, and it is precisely there that their fascination lies. Polli picks them up to uncover their essence and transform them into a new context.
A quiet, almost meditative process marks the beginning of the transformation. Carefully, Polli removes rust, old layers of paint, and encrustations. She smooths surfaces, brings out textures, and lets the materials breathe. It is an act of mindfulness – a gentle unveiling of hidden potential. Each movement is like a cut to a diamond, each step part of the journey toward a new identity.
The final touch is a glossy layer of lacquer or a precisely placed neon script. The object steps out of the shadow of its past and begins to shine – powerfully and uniquely. Petra Polli’s works are polished raw diamonds: radiant, vibrant, and full of stories.

Garage, 2023 Car sheet metal, paint, neon
GS-22-02, 2022, Aluminium, paint, 41x63x29cm

GS-22-05, 2022, Aluminium, paint, 87x77x27cm
GS-22-06, 2022, Aluminium 95x50x45cm

GS-22-03, 2022, Aluminium, paint, 41x63x29cm
Mut, 2022, Aluminium, paint, neon, 42x60x18cm

GS-22-01, 2022, Aluminium 33x52x15cm
GS-22-04, 2022, Steel, paint, 70x83x30cm
GS-22-07, 2022, Aluminium, paint, 73x20x8cm
GS-22-02, 2022, Aluminium, argon, 104x95cm