Art Karlsruhe

Paul Jacobsen, who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, was an assistant for Jeff Koons, Sean Scully, and Rudolph Stingel. In his series "Studies in Movements," he addresses the black flag, which is considered an authoritarian symbol representing the absence or resistance to a nation state. The artist has an increasingly critical view towards politics. Even though society is far from egalitarian, Jacobsen believes that a new, dark, chapter has recently begun in America's history, which is expressed through his video work in addition to his charcoal drawings. In Jacobsen's current works, the artist focuses on the motif of flags, the fabric abstracted into a distinctive, dark shape that seems to wave in the wind. Symbolically, Paul Jacobsen's works address the loss of values and the accompanying dwindling charisma of the national flag. His works on paper prove to be both a provocation and a haunting memorial.

A vast, seemingly infinite plain forms the foundation for the scene: As if from nowhere, people appear on the surface of the image. They emerge from layers rich in nuances of light white or hazy gray, leaving plenty of room for interpretation. The artist Leszek Skurski, who is a native of Poland, repeatedly devotes his paintings to figurative storytelling. In his works, he depicts many stories, that remain open-ended and allow the most diverse interpretations. They are paintings depicting narratives that seem to have paused or stopped in action, and Skurski captures these forms with a narrative density. Many evanescent moments of our existence and interactions are captured on the canvas like excerpts or snapshots between their occurrence and disappearance. Hence, the images of the artist, who lives and works in Fulda, are reminiscent of film stills or still images that outline a content, character, or mood.