There are a lot of things happening at the studio these days. I am preparing for two exhibitions already in the first half of the year, and I am currently working on different types of media, combining techniques, exploring and laying down the foundations for what’s to come (well, truthfully, I am doing this since November already, but this way it sounds cooler).
So right now, at this stage, it is hard to present finished work. It is too early for that but I am also a big fan of showing the progress in the studio, that’s why a lot of my content is tagged #WIP - even though images of unfinished work and studies and processes can lead to false conclusions from time to time. And some of this progress does land in the campfire in my studio up north 😂
These pictures here from last night show the first canvases I have started to work on in many years, having focused on mostly wood and sometimes paper since … I don’t even know. Years! What can I say? I started out as a painter in my early career and moved to woodcuts and wood sculptures and installations around 2009, and I love the feeling of the brushes on fabric again. Though paintings will only be a part of the work shown at my exhibitions - there will be paintings again! Obviously in my current styles and techniques, just not cutting or sawing or building …
Depending on my location, I will work in different ways and on different pieces: When I am in Hamburg I can probably do more construction as my woodshop is indoors, also there is more space for larger pieces. In my other studio in the countryside I am a bit limited indoors simply because it is an old half-timbered farmhouse with low ceilings. My woodshop there is partly outside, and while it does have a roof and a few walls, it is partly open and has no heating, so low temperatures and cold and wet weather can present limitations from time to time.
Paperwork I can do everywhere. I am already at 250 drawings for the Hamburg exhibition. I am going for 350 in June, maybe more, but not less.
The exhibitions I am focusing on at the moment are in New Orleans in May and in Hamburg in June.
In New Orleans I will present my work for the very first time at Mortal Machine Gallery! It just became official this week and I couldn’t be more excited about this one! The exhibition is titled “Memory Patinas” and opens May 13. Curated by gallerist Gabriel Shaffer, I show alongside Drew Leshko , Albert Reyes, TMRWLND and Alex Schaefer.
Here in Hamburg I have a huge solo show at the beautiful Barlach Halle K, and this is the largest exhibition hall I have ever shown at alone. No title yet, but a time: June 4-14. I am supported by Melvin and his team from heliumcowboy, of course, and it will be part of the 20 year anniversary program of the gallery.
More about both shows as they come closer. Also more about the progress of the work. Just follow me on instagram and come back to this website - it’s all there.
