Dominique L茅vy, London exhibits new work from German artist G眉nther Uecker at the gallery鈥檚 Old Bond Street location. Verletzte Felder (Wounded Fields) is Uecker鈥檚 first solo show in London for over 50 years and showcases a variety of articulations of light and shadow, all inspired by the series of six large-scale paintings on display in the exhibition.
Uecker鈥檚 highly physical approach to his work shines through in this collection, as does his creative process:聽鈥淓motions transform into gestures, into artistic actions 鈥 they become visible and form a field, tilled and furrowed like cropland. The material becomes artistic expression: painted, broken apart, sown with nails. The perception of world events finds reflection in the poetry of destruction.鈥
These paintings are defined by their process. Remaining true to Uecker鈥檚 way, this collection possesses an eminently ethical air, fuelled by the prominent themes of human violence, vulnerability and political responsibility. The canvasses harbour a mythical and mystical nature, achieved through the combination of absent colour and patterns of undulating nails 鈥 a technique employed by Uecker since the late 1950s. However, this mythical nature is not without interruption. The artist鈥檚 use of an axe to create violent and dissonant gashes in paintings such as Riss (Cleft) adds an unsettling yet arresting element to this assembly.
A variety of notable works are to be included. In particular, Uecker鈥檚 Baume aus einem Stamm (Trees from One Trunk) shall be displayed, a piece comprising of three tree-like forms all originating from one large wood trunk. It is a piece that represents the artist鈥檚 long-term study into the complex relationship between nature and humanity, as well as the recurring theme of healing and resurrection.
Verletzte Felder聽spans two floors of the gallery, who will also publish a book in conjunction with the exhibition.
G眉nther Uecker: Verletzte Felder (Wounded Fields), 23 September 鈥 29 October, Dominique L茅vy, London.聽For more, visit
Credits:
1.聽Installation view of G眉nther Uecker’s聽 Wind 聽(2009) in Sotto Voce at Dominique L茅vy in London, 2015.聽
