Große Radierungen
Exhibition opening: Friday, 28 September 2019, 7 pm
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the death of the artist Thomas Meier-Castel (1949-2008), who spent a large part of his life in the Saarland-Lorraine border area after stops in Karlsruhe, London and Paris, the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz are showing a selection of his works. Ten large-format etchings introduce an artist who occupies an independent and unmistakable position in contemporary graphic art in Germany.
Thomas Meier-Castel translated the technique of etching into the language of the present and gave it new dimensions in design. He did not use the etching needle, but rather electric impact drills, cutting and grinding discs, belt grinders, plasma cutters and large parquet sanding machines to process huge metal plates. His printing plates extended to one by two meters, thus breaking the usual dimensions. Since standard etching presses do not reach these dimensions, Meier-Castel had his own printing press built to his specifications.
As an “open-air etcher”, the artist worked with his plates directly at historically charged locations such as the industrial works in Leuna in Saxony-Anhalt. The prints on the rich handmade paper with their fine burrs, velvety soft black, differentiated shades of tone, light grey areas and unruly black lines stand in unexpected contrast to the hard work of their production, the rough equipment and the effort of printing.
The exhibition, a cooperation with the Saarlandmuseum – Moderne Galerie der Stiftung Saarländischer Kulturbesitz, is accompanied by a catalogue.
ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME TO THE EXHIBITION
CURATOR TOURS
by Kerstin Drechsel
Thursday, 4 October 2018, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, 7 November 2018, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, 19 December 2018, 7 p.m.
TOUR OF THE EXHIBITION
with Kerstin Drechsel and the lender Ute Gortner-Meier
Saturday, 10 November 2018, 3 p.m.
FILM SHOW
Thomas Meier-Castel (1990) with kind permission of the SR
10 and 11 November 2018, 11am-6pm
MUSICAL GUIDED TOUR THROUGH THE EXHIBITION
with Helene Winkler (cello) and Andreas Winkler (viola)
Thursday, 6 December 2018, 6 pm
