Spring Selection 2014
The group exhibition "Spring Selection 2014" showcases from May 3 to June 21, 2014, the works of established artists from the gallery alongside those of young artists from the Düsseldorf Art Academy. This creates a dialogue between different generations of artists, reflected in the wide range of media used. The exhibition offers various approaches to the theme of abstraction. All five artists share a personal quest for structure, rhythm, and a new order based on their own perception. The cultural backgrounds of the artists are quite diverse. Chen Qiang, Shao Wei, and Cao Yixiao grew up in China, while Eberhard Ross and Matthias Leeck hail from North Rhine-Westphalia.
Eberhard Ross (b. 1959) and Chen Qiang (b. 1960) work on the classic panel painting, taking different approaches. The painter Eberhard Ross, who lives in Mülheim, explores the phenomenon of luminosity in his new works, inspired by classical music in his search for a "visual sound." In contrast, Chen Qiang draws inspiration from the dynamism and organic nature of his adopted home, Shanghai. His paintings are characterized by abstract structures where individual organisms stand in opposition to overarching forms.
Art Academy students Matthias Leeck (b. 1988) and Shao Wei (b. 1983) push the boundaries between sculpture and panel painting with their works. The reliefs created by Düsseldorf Academy student Leeck, using modern techniques, are based on photographs. The seemingly objective quality of photography is disrupted, bringing an abstract relationship between space and surface to the forefront of consideration. The works from the "Peace" series by master student Shao Wei distance themselves from the classic panel painting due to her choice of materials. She works with plastic ironing beads, exploring how artistic expression is influenced by the use of seemingly everyday objects and how the experience of the artwork relates to the associations connected to the material.
Media artist Cao Yixiao (b. 1987) takes a different approach in her live performance "10,000 Waters 1,000 Mountains," where she explores her artistic roots. She presents a live video collage inspired by the aesthetics of traditional Chinese landscape painting, Shanshui. Similar to this art form, Cao Yixiao seeks to evoke the poetry of nature by merging her self-written poems with a video collage.
The opening reception will be on Saturday, May 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, featuring a live performance by Cao Yixiao at 5:30 and 6:00 PM.
Gallery opening hours:
Tue-Sat 2:00-6:00 PM and by appointment.