Palm

Polka Galerie presents "Palm", an exhibition by Matt Henry, running from May 22 to August 1, 2026. This series focuses on the palm tree as a subject for socio-political analysis, revisiting its symbolism from the mid-20th century onwards. Henry explores how the palm, once a symbol of exoticism, became associated with post-war Western prosperity and leisure.

The exhibition features three photographic narratives that use the palm as an analytical lens, examining themes of consumer culture, commodified leisure, and the domestication of nature. Henry's work, influenced by American 1960s and 70s culture, employs a theatrical, "camp", and sometimes kitsch aesthetic to create fictionalized worlds that are distorted fragments of memory and myth. The artist aims to immerse viewers in these constructed universes, offering a satirical and subversive commentary on societal trends.