Markus Schaller
dal 21/1/2008 al 19/3/2008
Segnalato da
21/1/2008
Markus Schaller
Guardini Foundation, Berlin
Formen Sprache - On the readability of things. The latest works of the artist, especially created for this exhibition, testify the symbiosis of industrial technique and his love for words and language. With the help of heavy machinery he embosses his intimate thoughts onto heavy metal objects, and thus creates a perfect combination of poetry and sculpture. On display are 18 artworks, comprising abstract black charbon paintings, metal sculptures and minimalist installations.
As of January 22nd, 2008, the Berlin Guardini Foundation will be presenting
the solo exhibition of the German artist Markus Schaller (born 1967), and
thus invites the visitors to deal with one of the most primordial kinds of
art – the art of forging.
In 1994, the artist who had originally focused on literature, completed his
arts studies at the UdK (University of Arts) Berlin as a master-class pupil
of
Rebecca Horn. Already during this studies, Markus Schaller received a lot of
attention by making use of traditional sculpture techniques. While in 1991
he
had initiated the first ´artist co-operative gallery´ - Mulack 23 - in
Berlin-Mitte, Schaller exclusively exhibited his works in external galleries
since the
mid ´90s. Since then, he has taken part in numerous international
exhibitions and was also invited to show at the Biennale di Venezia (1997,
´Europarte´)
and the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale (2006).
In recent years, his oeuvre has been mainly exhibited in Canada and the U.S.
Markus Schaller lives and works in Berlin.
His latest works, especially created for this exhibition, testify anew the
symbiosis of industrial technique and the love for words and language. With
the
help of heavy machinery he embosses his intimate thoughts onto heavy metal
objects, and thus creates a perfect combination of poetry and sculpture.
By doing so, the artist has set a milestone within today´s loud and flashy
art scene.
Markus Schallers exhibition ´Formen Sprache´ comprises 18 artworks and will
be on view at the gallery of the Guardini Foundation through March 20th,
2008.
On two floors, ten world premieres will be shown alongside early works like
´40 hammers´ and ´One warm up´. By engaging with Schaller´s works,
the visitors are invited to enter into a dialogue with those works. The
artist aims at “creating rooms where communication can come to life and
flourish: communication with the artwork, and between the viewers.“
Whether in the form of minimalist spacial installations, of human-like
figures or a 36m2 constellation made of steel plates embossed with words –
Markus Schaller´s sculptures are and remain the ambassadors of his texts and
thoughts. “For Markus Schaller, the lettering incorporated or tattooed
in these sculptures and the addition of a language shortened to lexical
signs and hieroglyphs, have grown from fascination to obsession. Material
calls
for spirit, steel for words“.
In relation to his metal sculptures, Schaller will also be showing abstract
black charbon paintings. These paintings are, artistically speaking,
completely
independent from his three-dimensional works, even though they are
interlinked by the choice of material. Iron dust, produced during the act of
forging,
as well as graphite, carbon and pure sulphate for emphasis are used by the
artist to create these works of art.
Schaller´s paintings only start to ´speak´ within the viewers´mental
associations, while his sculptures take us directly into a dialogue. Thus,
in many
ways, the artist manages to give us a understanding of the ´readability of
things´.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a 112-page catalogue; written by
Dr. Wieland Schmied and Andrea Pagnes and published by Navado Press.
Press informations:
artpress – Ute Weingarten, Nadine Dinter
Tempelhofer Ufer 17- Berlin artpress@uteweingarten.de
Guardini Foundation
Askanischer Platz 4 - Berlin
Opening hours: Tuesdays – Fridays, 2 – 7 pm