Johannes Albers: Paul Hosking: Leiko Ikemura: Andrej Golder: Ralf Rose: Simon English: Satu Teresa Król: Ralf Ziervogel: Georg Parthen: Günther Förg: Artists Invite Friends 28. June 2012 - 01. September 2012

The Michael Fuchs Galerie is currently showing a group exhibition entitled "ARTISTS INVITE FRIENDS", with works by gallery artists and their friends.

Leiko Ikemura and Günther Förg
The work of Leiko Ikemura (* 1951 Tsu / Japan) and Gunther Forg (* 1952 feet / D) appear initially very different. The delicate, figurative landscapes contrast with the abstract style of Förg. On closer inspection, however, similarities emerge, such as surface structure, the muted colors, and a contemplative mood. The muted colors of Ikemura and Förg are ambiguous, they suggest on the one hand, peace and tranquility emphasizing the materiality of the surface, on the other hand, they provide shade, depth and space.

Johannes Albers and Satu Teresa Król
The work of Johannes Albers (born 1966 Überlingen / D) is a tribute to his fellow Goldsmith’s colleauge and longtime girlfriend Satu Krol (b. 1964 -2000). In these works Johannes Albers enters into an artistic dialogue with his deceased friend. Johannes Albers has recreated the paper printed objects of Satu Król and installs them on the wall near a towering black monolith. The matt black finish, reminiscent of modern stealth technology dominates, appearing threatening in the room. Like an iceberg under water, this work embodies the unfulfilled hopes and stories that are not visible in this world, but nevertheless largely govern our lives.

Gama, Georg Parthen, Ralf Rose
Gama (born 1977 Baotuo / Mongolia) has invited and studio colleagues Ralf Rose (b. 1975 Neuenbürg / D) and Georg Parthen (born 1977 in Wiesbaden / D) to present their works in this exhibition. In Gama's work “das Schlafzimmer des Meisters" indoor and outdoor space appear in a pictorial composition and can be interpreted symbolically as the artists idea of European and Asian space perception. On the one hand, the vast barren hills of Mongolia, on the other hand, a space similar to western home decor. This juxtaposition is supported by the lighting in the picture. Gama works in post-realistic style combining features of socialist realism with elements of pop art in surreal imagery. The archaic sculpture by Ralf Rose deal with human existence and its origins. He explores in his objects cycles of life. The artist uses mostly organic material, such as human hair and animal bones in combination with stone or concrete. The materiality of the characters are a symbol of power and strength within life cycles. Georg Parthen employs photography as a documentary medium. His works reflect visual and textual features of documentation and play with elements of reality and fiction. In his series of landscapes (2007-2010), he refers to places in the real world, which he reorganizes through fictional elaboration. In “Dorf” he uses assembly, digital lighting and retouching to create entirely new views of idyllic locations that blend smoothly into a hillside. The subtle manipulation suggests a perfect scenic view, yet the perfection is troubling. Here entirely new landscapes emerge from the entanglement of real places that are skillfully combined together. In his new series of studies Georg Parthen examines materials of the everyday world and subjects them to the aesthetics of advertisment photography. Laminate, artificial stone, marble sheets, cardboard and glass are among the everyday objects which are united in compositions.

Andreas Golder and Ralf Ziervogel
The large-scale works by Andreas Golder (b. 1979 in Yekaterinburg) and Ralf Ziervogel (b. 1975 in Clausthal-Zellerfeld) were created in collaboration. “LASSEN SIE SICH MAL WIEDER ETWAS NEUES EINFALLEN - DER ERFOLG IST GARANTIERT” is named after Andreas Golder’s horoscope on 21st June. This work is the promse of a self-fullfilling prophecy, combined with the expansive quality of the universe and galaxies. In “ESKIMOLIED”, Ziervogel dispenses with his perfectly executed and highly detailed splatter figures and replaces them with words that contain the same unbridled power.

Paul Hosking and Simon English
Paul Hosking (born 1976 Plymouth / GB) and Simon English (born 1959 in Berlin) have a longstanding friendship and a taste for irony and black humor. Hosking operates in the fields of sculpture, objects and installations using plexiglass, steel and neon tubes. In the current exhibition, two works by Hosking entitled Flux and Flo can be seen as a logical development of his Rorschach portraits which arose through the mirroring of objects, repitition, and playing with perception. With a characteristic mix of charm and obsession, Simon English integrates references from poetry, childrens# literature and music with references to friends and relatives. Almost all of the works are carried out in a seemingly endless variety of flesh-colored and neutral tones. His drawings, some of which are openly erotic, often contain a poetic narrative. Simon English throws in a wild orgy of references to pop music, literature, art history, politics, history and creates a sumptuous, but controlled chaos.