Forms of Discontinuity
The Düsseldorf Art Academy is one of the most established art academies in Germany. Closely associated with names such as Joseph Beuys, Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, Gerhard Richter and Günther Uecker, or the photo artists Bernd and Hilla Becher, Andreas Gursky, Candida Höfer, Axel Hütte, Thomas Ruff and Thomas Struth, the academy is characterized by its great internationality. We are showing seven graduates of the Düsseldorf Art Academy in a group exhibition: Laura Aberham, Mahssa Askari, Yijie Gong, Sophie Heinrich, Carolin Israel, Julia Rüther, Hiroshi Tanaka. At first glance, the exhibits present a heterogeneous overall picture, with abstract positions juxtaposed with realistic and constructivist geometric ones. On closer inspection, an exciting discourse of (dis)continuity and ambiguity develops, which stimulates and enriches aspects. Very different, exciting and extremely independent positions, whose juxtapositions initiate an interesting art discourse.
With her contemplative color field paintings, the young Chinese artist Yijie Gong creates backdrop-like spatial experiences with a suggestive depth effect, which make the color visually and almost physically tangible.
Laura Aberham's paintings are defined by their color intensity and an incredible dynamism. Her handling of color and form is sovereign and extremely powerful, her mostly large-format, abstract works appear gestural and at the same time precisely composed.
Mahssa Askari is concerned with merging the surface, the play of light of the colors in the picture, memory and fantasy into a unity. At the same time, the seemingly weightless images leave the viewer plenty of room for his or her own interpretation.
Sophie Heinrich is enthusiastic about the interaction with the painting process, the observation of different contexts and effects on the canvas. The potential of painterly design elements such as form, color, line, light, its combination and intensity.
The basically abstract paintings of Carolin Israel form a kind of stage for her small world theater. Built up in layers, they mark, sometimes of cold, sometimes of warm tonality, of compact-closed or transparent physicality, different sensations of reality, emotional spaces, or states of being.
Julia Rüther's works are made of environmentally friendly materials. The artist is fascinated by patterns that carry a rhythm, but also layers and, above all, subtle color gradations that give the works their transparent radiance.
A completely unique take on abstract works is shown in the paintings of Japanese artist Hiroki Tanaka. Subtle, fine lines and a very reduced colorfulness characterize the works, some of which are applied to the canvas with carbon paper and are distantly reminiscent of caligraphy.
