Georg Baselitz
Back Then, In Between and Today
September 19, 2014–February 1, 2015
Haus der Kunst
Prinzregentenstr. 1
80538 Munich
Germany
Since 2008, Haus der Kunst has presented monographic exhibition surveys of important contemporary artists, their works and development. In the fall of 2014, Haus der Kunst continues this series of investigations, dedicating a comprehensive solo exhibition to the work of Georg Baselitz. The show offers an illuminating examination of works that span 50 years. This presentation focuses on the recent group of the “Black Paintings” and the monumental bronze sculptures, investigating their formal and thematic origins in the artist’s early work.
As Michael Semff describes, in the “Black Paintings” Baselitz has augmented his pictorial language with a further radical turn, one that aims toward the elimination of all visible contrasts and reveals an almost somnambulic mastery of his material. His fluid, circling brushwork exerts a magnetism in whose force field the motif merges totally with the background. All the eruptive quality of his painting is still present, although it appears magically calmed, as if under a membrane. Vehemence turns into repose—but this is a repose that, far from superseding excitation, renders it all the more sublime.
The monumental bronze sculptures, all of them bearing a black patina, appear just as “obscured” as the “Black Paintings,” produced at the same time. The sculptures invoke figurative themes that were coined in Baselitz’s paintings; they allude to art-historical and biographical fields of reference.
The present investigation is based on those themes that are connected with the production of the “Black Paintings” and bronze sculptures. The exhibition shows among others paintings from the years 1965 to 1977 that define five central pictorial objects in Baselitz’s work: Die großen Freunde (The Great Friends, 1965) possesses a kind of iconic significance within Baselitz’s oeuvre as a whole; Porträt Elke I (Portrait of Elke I, 1969) is the first portrait that Baselitz painted of his wife, whereas Schlafzimmer (Bedroom, 1975) interprets an intimate subject, with both modeling in the nude; Fingermalerei-Adler (Finger Painting-Eagle, 1972) is his very first depiction of the eagle motif.
In 2005, Baselitz picked up these key motifs in his “Remix” series. On the one hand, Baselitz here cites works from the “Heroes” in a paradigmatic fashion. On the other hand, the acceleration of formal resources permits a completely new access to the themes. In the series of works known as the “Negative Paintings,” Baselitz not only inverts the represented object, but tonal values as well. This presentation as a photographic negative enacts an additional reversal of the image in relation to a “natural” perception of the motif.
Haus der Kunst is honored to be hosting this exhibition in close collaboration with Georg Baselitz. The fully illustrated catalogue is published by Prestel and includes contributions by Georg Baselitz, Katy Siegel, Eric Darragon, Michael Semff and Ulrich Wilmes.
On occasion of the exhibition, Georg Baselitz has created an exclusive limited edition available from September 18. Please reserve here.
The exhibition is curated by Ulrich Wilmes and organized by Haus der Kunst. A modified version of the show will travel to the Powerstation of Art in Shanghai in spring 2015.
Major support to the exhibition has been provided by Gesellschaft der Freunde Haus der Kunst e.V., Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Salzburg/Paris; White Cube, London; Gagosian Gallery, London and New York.
We thank our shareholders for the support of the exhibition: Freistaat Bayern, Josef Schörghuber Stiftung, Gesellschaft der Freunde Haus der Kunst e.V.
Current exhibitions
Stan Douglas: Mise en Scène
till October 12
Broken. Slapstick, Comedy, and Black Humor — The Goetz Collection at Haus der Kunst
till June 7, 2015
Upcoming exhibitions
Der Öffentlichkeit – Von den Freunden Haus der Kunst: Anri Sala – The Present Moment
October 18, 2014–September 20, 2015
Victor Man – Zephir
October 24, 2014–January 11, 2015
Capsule 1: Tilo Schulz
October 24, 2014–January 11, 2015
Capsule 2: Mohamed Bourouissa
October 24, 2014–January 11, 2015
