Alexander Wagner. A Piece of Something Else

About

The exhibition shows not only, but above all, examples from the time of the pandemic, which the artist used to pose new questions about painting. As a result, his paintings are increasingly vague memories rather than motifs, more state than concrete reference, in terms of questions immanent to the image and subjective perception. They revolve around the moment in which the colours loosen their ties to the object and strive for autonomy.

Time plays a central role, because the appearance of spontaneous, gestural painting that Wagner’s works create is deceptive. In fact, they are the result of a lengthy process that can extend over weeks and months. Wagner lets them rest again and again, only to look at them again later with a fresh eye. The results are pictures that, unlike other examples of the present day, do not serve as memento mori of bygone eras, but manifestations of real, pulsating forms.

Alexander Wagner lives and works in Berlin.