G2 #5
T H R O U G H   A   G L A S S ,   C L E A R L Y
Sebastian Burger / Stefan Guggisberg

9 September 2016 – 15 January 2017

 

 

Through a Glass, Clearly is the title of the first institutional exhibition by Sebastian Burger (born 1980 in Magdeburg) and Stefan Guggisberg (born 1980 in Thun). The focus of the exhibition lies on new works on paper by both artists. The exhibition aims at establishing a dialogue between two positions, that have parallels in their artistic development: Burger and Guggisberg both graduated from the Academy of Visual Arts in Leipzig and were “Meisterschüler” (postgraduate students) in the class of Neo Rauch.The works presented in the exhibition give visitors an opportunity to understand and perceive the artistic and technical differentiation of their approach.

Common to both artists is a fundamental interest in the visual and haptic treatment of materials and surfaces, while in conceptual terms they take different directions: the centre of interest of Guggisberg’s works is the exploration of primal forces and cosmological ideas. In a laborious process Guggisberg creates artificial visions of inner landscapes, where natural elements and primordial forces such as water, stone, air, and light play key roles. His distinctive images often have an archaic character and bear witness to an inner truth of things, that seems to adhere to a universal logic of time and space.

Burger focuses on the artificial nature of the physical qualities of materials such as glass, metal, plastic, leather, and other fabrics. His visual language is influenced by media and pop culture. Besides autobiographical references, Burger uses motifs from music, literature and film – e.g. the utopian elements of science-fiction – for his compositions and arranges them into new meanings and images, that oscillate between still-lifes, landscapes and comics.

curated by Anka Ziefer

Exhibition catalogue: Sebastian Burger / Stefan Guggisberg – Through a Glass, Clearly with texts by Domenico de Chirico & Anka Ziefer, ed. by G2 Kunsthalle, publ. by MMKoehn Berlin/Leipzig, graphic design: Kay Bachmann, ISBN 978-3-944903-36-1 15 Euro.

Sebastian Burger, born 1980 in Magdeburg, 2001–2003 Vienna Art School, 2003–2009 studied painting at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig, 2005–2009 class of Neo Rauch, 2010–2012 “Meisterschüler” (postgraduate) at the class of Neo Rauch. Burger lives and works in Leipzig. Solo exhibitions include Leipzig (2016), Frankfurt am Main (2014) and Berlin (2013). He participated in numerous group shows in Leipzig, Berlin and other cities including Naples (2016), New York (2016), London (2014) and Hamburg (2012).

Stefan Guggisberg, born 1980 in Thun (Switzerland), 1999–2003 School of Design Biel, 2005–2009 studied photography and painting at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig in the classes of Christopher Muller, Neo Rauch and Timm Rautert, 2010–2012 “Meisterschüler” (postgraduate) at the class of Neo Rauch. Guggisberg lives and works in Leipzig. Solo exhibitions include Zurich (2015), Stuttgart (2013), Lugano (2011), Lucerne (2010) and Bern (2009). He participated in numerous group shows in Leipzig, Bern and other cities including Thun (2015), Biel (2014), Oslo (2014) and Aschaffenburg (2013).

Artist talk with Sebastian Burger & Stefan Guggisberg: Thursday, 17 November 2016, 6.30pm, free entry (in German language), Moderation: Anka Ziefer

Parallel to the exhibition Through a Glass, Clearly new parts of the Hildebrand Collection will be presented at G2 Kunsthalle. Besides new acquisitions by Neo Rauch, David Schnell and Uwe Kowski, works from the collection by, among others, Björn Dahlem, Marcel Dzama, Jens Einhorn, Grit Hachmeister, Gregor Hildebrandt, Anna K.E., Juliana Ortiz, Thomas Ruff, Thomas Schütte and Tal R will be shown for the first time.

Press Information

REVIEWS & MEDIA (selection)
Art Viewer, 5 Dezember 2016 (link to external source)
kunst:art, no. 52, November/Dezember 2016 (pdf)
Daily Lazy, 1 November 2016 (link to external source)
Artsy, 24 October 2016 (link to external source)
Leipziger Volkszeitung, 21 September 2016 (pdf)
Independent Collectors, 19 September 2016 (link to external source)

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