Michael Werner Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings by the pre-eminent Germany artist, Jörg Immendorff (b. 1945).
While a student at the Dusseldorf Academy in the mid-Sixties, Immendorff interacted extensively with his professor, Joseph Beuys. Impressed by Beuys' ideas of artistic freedom, Immendorff began his own 'academy' an alternative movement called 'Lidl'which parodied and denounced the activities of social institutions. The social and political commentary of these early performances created a visual and theoretical thread which continues to inform his work.
Immendorff has created a rare iconographic language, from the 'Café Deutschland'and 'Café de Flore'series of the 1970s and 1980s, in which he invented imaginary locales where fellow artists, intellectuals and politicians could meet, to 'The Rake's Progress'series of the 1990s, inspired by William Hogarth's 18th century etchings parodying a Christian morality play. In 1994, Immendorff received the prestigious commission to design the sets for the Igor Stravinsky opera 'The Rake's Progress'in Salzburg. The production was highly acclaimed in both the theater and art worlds for its unconventional beauty and visual impact.
This exhibition of new paintings from 1999 and 2000 combines iconography from 15-18th century etchings and eerily modern images of anthropomorphic larvae, plants and figures, and reinforces Immendorff's unique vision.
Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10am until 6pm. The exhibition will be on view from 25 January through 3 March 2001. A full-color catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
Please contact the gallery for further information.
