The exhibition shows Thomas Stimm's work, such as huge plants and fruits cast in aluminium or polyurethane, which are especially suitable for outside display. Uta Weber's works on paper are reminiscent of a film still, yet also of the silkscreen prints of early Pop art, evoking a quietness and composure of travelling.
Thomas Stimm
Der Spazierganger
Born 1948 in Vienna, lives and works in Vienna and Cologne.
Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna at Max Weiler, 1971 member of the group
GUM, assistant of Max Weiler, 1995 guest professor at Kunsthochschule Bremen, and
1997 at Claremont School of Art, Perth. 1996 Formation of SOYLENT GREEN together
with Uta Weber.
Exhibitions (Selection): ikob - Museum fur zeitgenossische Kunst Eupen, Belgium
(2006); Gorizia Biennale; MAK - Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna; Ludwig Museum,
Cologne (2005); Galerie im Traklhaus, Salzburg; MUMOK - Museum of Modern Art, Wien;
Kjubh Kunstverein Cologne (2004); 1. Osterreichischer Skulpturenpark, Graz; The 2nd
World Ceramics Biennale 2003, Icheon City, South Korea; Biennale of Ceramics in
Contemporary Art, Albisola, Italy; Rupertinum, Salzburg (2003); Christine Konig
Galerie, Vienna; Museum Ludwig, Cologne (2002).
In this, the fourth solo exhibition of Thomas Stimm's work, we are showing for the
first time the artist's objects, such as huge plants and fruits cast in aluminium or
polyurethane, which are especially suitable for outside display. His idiosyncratic
depictions of nature - I copied my first flowers from my daughter, who was then 4
years old - have characterised Stimm's for almost 40 years now: at first giant
papier-mache' landscapes, in which human beings also found their place, then little
everyday idylls which were hand-moulded from clay, as were the later dandelions and
daisies. Transferring the statics of natural flowers to large-format ceramics was in
the beginning a question of technical craftsmanship and the knowledge of the
blueprints of plants. Today, Thomas Stimm works with specialists in Germany, Poland
and Austria in order to explore new materials and technical possibilities.
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Uta Weber
Hierhin und dorthin
Born 1966 in Leverkusen, lives and works in Vienna and Cologne. Studied at
Fachhochschule Aachen, and the Academies of Art in Munster and Dusseldorf. 1996
Formation of SOYLENT GREEN together with Thomas Stimm.
Exhibitions (Selection): Galerie Carla Stutzer, Cologne (2004); Museum Ludwig,
Cologne; Neuer Aachener Kunstverein (2002); Christine Konig Galerie, Vienna; Kjubh
Kunstverein, Cologne; Kunstverein Frechen; Kunstverein Baden (2000/01).
Uta Weber's new colourful works on paper present the act of travelling as such. One
might be of the opinion that quickly drawn sketches would be better suited to this
purpose. Yet the flat, two-dimensional and exact nature of the drawing, executed
using oil crayons on card, does not contradict the act of recording transient
moments, passing landscapes, the traces of planes in the sky or strangely empty
waiting rooms. These works on paper are reminiscent of a film still, yet also of the
silkscreen prints of early Pop art, evoking a quietness and composure of travelling
which certainly does not exist in quite that way. It seems as if "the traveller
found herself in a kind of time out, in a state of passiveness, which releases her
for a certain time from any kind of connection and responsibility." (quot. from
Silke Immenga, Cologne)
Opening: Thursday, March 23, 2006, 7 - 9 pm
Christine Koenig Galerie
Schleifmuehlgasse 1A - Wien
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11 am - 3 pm