Christoph
Ruckhäberle
Nye
Eventyr
September 2 - October 29 2005
Galleri Nicolai Wallner
is happy to present the exhibition Nye Eventyr with new paintings
by the German artist Christoph Ruckhäberle.
Ruckhäberle
works in a way that draws on classical painterly tradition but combines
it with something instantly modern. As
promised by the Danish title Nye Eventyr (new fairytales), this
exhibition marks an innovative direction for Ruckhäberle: tilted
angles of vision and bold colours differ from the straightforwardness
of earlier works. Both in their aesthetics and narrative the paintings
have an aggressive edge that challenges the viewer.
In Dschungel we see
a group of men returned to a sort of natural state, vegetating in
the branches of a lush, tropical jungle. However the figures' combed
hair and the fact that one is reading a book undermine any presumption
that we are witnessing a real return to nature. The stage is set
for a human tragedy of sorts but the story in its entirety eludes
the viewer.
The theatrical aspect
of the artist's work seems underlined by the series of masks near
the entry to the gallery. The solemn faces of Ruckhäberle's
figures are condensed into pure theatre. Amongst the posters of
Plakatwand we find both French actor / playwright Roland Topor and
legendary German children figure Meister Eder. In front a suit clad
man sits with a bottle, his face covered by a hat.
Die Flasche Bakbuk
picks up its title from Renaissance novelist Rabelais. But where
as Rabelais described a mythical quest for the bottle Bakbuk, Ruckhäberle
switch to a more prosaic motif; a pair of men turned upside down
drinking wine. Opposite we find Drei Frauen, three women sitting
at a table, their skirts and legs forming beautiful patterns. There
is something impossible about the painting and perhaps Ruckhäberle's
work in general. Foreshortenings and perspective plays with viewer,
making it a dizzying experience to look at the figures. One is constantly
questioned what is up and down, in and out.
The works for the
exhibition Nye Eventyr have been created in Copenhagen this summer
in connection with an artist residence at Statens Værksteder,
Gl. Dok.
We are happy to welcome
you in the gallery.
Kind regards,
Galleri Nicolai Wallner
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