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10/12/2003

Richard Artschwager

Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

Drawings 1960 - 2002

Exhibition of the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung in the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

On the occasion of the eightieth birthday of American artist Richard Artschwager (*1923) the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung will exhibit an important group of drawings that, in conjunction with a significant loan from the Kunstmuseum Winterthur, will form its basis.

Within his multifarious creative range between painting and sculpture Richard Artschwager ascribes great importance to the more traditional and intimate medium of drawing. From the outset his drawings have given rise to many questions - questions about the relationship of object, subject and representation, about the ambivalent position between object intent and its unique form in the context of its surrounding space.

Indeed the now eighty-year-old Richard Artschwager has lost none of his dynamism, self-irony and critical acumen.

Artschwager is one of only a small group of artists that has been able to avoid being pigeonholed into the usual contemporary art classifications. He fervidly insists on the autonomy of his drawings.
For him they do not fall into a subordinate genre, but form an autonomous part of his artistic expression. Apart from the mostly small format notebook sketches, Artschwager has been producing since the 60's a large number of larger drawings, which consummately shed light on his approach. A group of five charcoal drawings recently have been acquired by the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung through the support of PIN. Freunde der Pinakothek der Moderne e. V. (Friends of the Pinakothek der Moderne) stems from this fund of works.

The interdependence and ambiguity of object and image, between material reality and aesthetic illusion, even between space and surface oscillate in these drawings though his use of sfumato. This technique, used by the mannerists through to the pointillist Seurat, envelops that which it depicts investing it with unusual magic, spatial luminescence, poetry as well as corporeal shading.

For Artschwager ' a drawing is something seen, held in the hand painting is a juicy substance which the eye can penetrate.' Artschwager's creative credo does not rest on a particular medium or style, but focuses rather on its relation to reality:
'If I had any kind of epiphany, it's that everything matters, that's a romantic idea.' In 1986 the artist outlined his thoughts on the art of drawing: 'In the larger schema of art drawing occupies a position which is both central and peripheral... Drawing which is purely drawing lies on the edge however: fragile, querulous, perfectly imitating itself with maddening consistency revealing to much and too little.'

© Staatliche Graphische Sammlung | Foto: Engelbert Seehuber

Press Preview: Dec. 11, 2003, 11.00

Opening: Dec. 11, 2003, 19.00

Duration of exhibition: Dec. 12, 2003 - Feb. 6, 2004

Location: Graphische Sammlung
Pinakothek der Moderne
Kunstareal | Barer Str. 29, 80799 München
Telefon: + 49 89 23805-118

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