Mein Europa
February 24–May 6, 2018
Hannover 30159
Germany
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 12–7pm
Sunday 11am–7pm
T +49 511 16992780
mail@kunstverein-hannover.de
With the solo exhibition Mein Europa (My Europe), the Kunstverein Hannover is presenting the first survey exhibition of Alexander Lieck (*1967 in Berlin, lives in Berlin).
The artist poses fundamental questions to the role of art, in particular to the medium of painting. The traces of the painterly process in his works have a captivating effect. They are "masterful" and at the same time poetic, and demand independent consideration without holding ready any contextualizations. Alexander Lieck writes the following in his manifesto-like text "Art and Painting" from 2013:
"I do not want to demonstrate anything with my art or even proof something, I am not looking for the picture or painting but for imagination. The conquest of an idea, the conquest of self, working against oneself and possibly also failing onself and because of onself again and again."
The title of the exhibition already opens up a wide field of associations consisting of geographical references and content-related connections, which Lieck evokes especially through the choice of titles for his works. They operate much like paintings themselves: associative, erratic, poetic. His inquiry into form continues in the drawings, sculptures, and photographs taken in urban space that he produces parallel to his paintings. Concepts such as ruin, amateurishness, or the unmistakable debates on "bad painting" or the "end of painting" are addressed artistically.
Beyond his ongoing individual practice, collaborative works are also being shown that he developed with Olivier Foulon (*1976 in Brussels, lives in Berlin). Foulon’s conceptually arranged works deal with gaps and traces—in which the interface between the two artistic positions is based.
Curated by Kathleen Rahn (Director)
Related program
Movie screening: Painters Painting
March 11, 6pm
Director: Emile de Antonio, original version, USA 1972, 16 mm, 116 min.
In cooperation with Kino im Künstlerhaus
Public talk: "Painting 2.0 – Expression in the Information Age"
March 14, 7pm
Tonio Kröner (Museum Brandhorst, Munich)
Movie screening: Radio No Jikan
April 8, 6pm
Director: Mitani Kōki, Japan 1997, original version, 35 mm, 104 min.
In cooperation with Kino im Künstlerhaus
Artist talk
May 2, 7pm
With Alexander Lieck and Kathrin Jentjens (art historian, Düsseldorf)
With the support of: Ministery of Science and Culture of the State of Lower Saxony; VHV Foundation; Meravis Immobiliengruppe. The Kunstverein is permanently supported by the Culture Office of the Landeshauptstadt Hannover.
