ART-PRESENTATION: Imi Knoebel-New Works
Imi Knoebel exploits the possibilities of Abstraction more than almost any other artist. Since his studied with Joseph Beuys at the Düsseldorf Art Academy (1964-71), he has exclusively investigated color, form, and serialism, far from any kind of figuration. One of the foremost artists of his generation, Knoebel’s multi-faceted oeuvre spans more than 50 years, incorporating drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, projection and installation.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac Archive
Imi Knoebel’s solo exhibition “New Works” at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Villa Kast, Salzburg, consists of work from his “Datums-bildern “, “Drachen- bildern“ and “Schnitt-bildern” series as well as his new miniature series “Elements”. Knoebel first used color in 1974, from 1975 onwards he went on to overlapping colored rectangles called “Mennigebilder” and finally to a garish, gesturally expressive application of paint on plywood or metal panels placed in a specific spatial relation. Since the ‘90s, Knoebel has increasingly been using aluminium as a painting ground, and has begun to put together works composed of cut-out aluminium elements combined to form geometric colour fields, the significant features being the colours and their boundaries. The “Datums-bilder” from the “Liaison Astéroïde” series consist of combined aluminium and wall objects, their silhouettes displaying a wide variety of irregular geometric forms. In these works, the artist focuses on the identity of amorphous bodies resulting from the convergence of two diverse elements – as in a collision of asteroids. They do not merge into a homogeneous whole, however; the boundaries remain clearly visible, and different materials are visually rendered by means of corresponding colouration and application of paint. Almost like a development of the “Drachen-bilder”, a discreet, very regular, yet apparently quite arbitrary line runs through the monochrome surfaces of the new “Schnitt-Bilder”. This playful division, which cuts through the picture at a completely unexpected place, alters its balance, giving it a totally new aesthetic. In his new series named “Elements”, Knoebel’s playful treatment of color and dimension becomes particularly clear. Groups of tiny organic forms are presented as a frieze. The recurring exploration, in the “Elements”, of the possibilities offered by reduction and abstraction shows the emotional and intellectual power of geometry.
Info: Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Villa Kast, Mirabellplatz 2, Salzburg, Duration: 29/7-26/8/17, Days & Hours: Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-14:00, http://ropac.net
