Troy Simmons & Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer
Dialogue
September 6 - October 13, 2018
Published by JanKossen Ltd www.jankossen.com 10th edition ©April 2018 All rights rerved Printed in USA
Two-person solo show with Troy Simmons (USA) and Harald SchmitzSchmelzer (GERMANY). Troy Simmons explores the idea of the Anthropocene and man’s destructive relationship with nature. Describing his work as an exploration of incompatible binary relationships; Simmons’ work is a contemporary reimagining of the Arte Povera movement, particularly in the beautification of everyday objects and the dynamic juxtaposition between traces of nature and industry. Conversely, the creations of Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer draw inspiration from nature and ancient culture’s most elemental forms, functioning as contemporary manifestations. Through a technique evolved over years of experimentation, pigmented resin is poured in parallel or vertical layers onto a base of raw tropical wood. Schmelzer cites diversity of chromaticity and translucency in his assertion of each layer’s existence as a sovereign entity; varying widths and hues mirror geological striations showing the passage of earths time.
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Fang 4, 2016 Resin on wood 39.3 x 17 x 8.2 in
ABOUT HARALD SCHMITZ-SCHMELZER In a technique evolved over years of experimentation, Schmitz-Schmelzer pours resin in parallel or vertical layers onto a plywood-capped base of raw tropical wood. Marriage of the foundation’s natural variegations to the set resin’s now crystalline surface produces a Minimalist amalgamation of lacquered and matte, transparent and opaque, levity and weight. Layers of undulating widths and hues are characterized by a diversity of chromaticity and translucency, which requires a comparison to the sedimentation of geological formations over the common likening to “3-D color stripes”. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ABOUT TROY SIMMONS Opposition dominates the work of Troy Simmons. Inspired by the dissonant relationship between man and nature, the artist explores possibilities for a stable coexistence of opposites. Simmons gives power to systematic structures and the vibrant and destructive forces that undermine and exist beneath them. With a background in Environmental Science and Architectural Design, Simmons creates scenes that teem with life within the rigid constructions that constrain them. Recalling the emergence of vegetal growth from sidewalk crevices, Simmons’ sculptures juxtapose somber concrete and aluminum against vibrant splashes of acrylic paint. Echoing the artist’s fascination with nature and modern Brutalist Architecture, medium identifies Simmons’ works as contemporary manifestations of the 1960s Arte Povera movement, transforming foundational building materials into vessels of aesthetic creation. Simmons’ work.
Troy Simmons Abutment, 2018 Concrete, aluminum, acrylic 40 x 30 x 3 in
Troy Simmons R310.1.3, 2017 Reinforced concrete, aluminium, acrylic 36 x 44 x 10 in
Troy Simmons Utopia, 2016 Concrete, acrylic, aluminium 24 x 36 x 3 in
Troy Simmons Evolve, 2016 Concrete, acrylic, aluminium 60 x 36 x 18 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Painting for Yuma, 2008 Oil, resin on wood 37.5 x 10.5 x 3 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Farbbrame 1, 2011 Coloured resin on tropical wood 47 x 10 x 6.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Bromo, 2016 Coloured resin on tropical wood 27.2 x 27.6 x 5.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Farbfries, 2007 Layered resin on tropical wood 59 x 23.6 x 3.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer DB FS 31F, 2016 Resin on wood 17.7 x 12.6 x 3.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Fang 3, 2016 Coloured resin on tropical wood 27 x 9 x 6 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Farbsediment Rot, 2016 Coloured resin on tropical wood 60.6 x 2.8 x 5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer 49 Farben, 2016 Resin on wood 31.5 x 45.2 x 5.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Pyramide, 2015 Resin on wood 17.3 x 16.5 x 12.4 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Fang XXII, 2018 Coloured resin on tropical wood 59 x 6 x 8 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Light Acqua, 2018 Resin on wood 12 x 3 x 6 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Deep Orange, 2018 Resin on wood 8 x 5 x 4 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Acqua layered, 2018 Resin on wood 13 x 3 x 5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Sunny side up, 2017 Resin on wood 7 x 3 x 11 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Maserpappel, 2018 Resin on wood 11 x 7 x 6.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Sunkist, 2018 Resin on wood 5 x 5 x 6.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Roter Komet Hellblau, 2017 Resin on wood 6 x 4 x 5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Candy Red, 2017 Resin on wood 7 x 4 x 5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Orange grapefruit, 2017 Resin on wood 7 x 4 x 5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Untitled (Translucent Blue), 2015 Resin on wood 5.3 x 3 x 5.3 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Untitled (Beige), 2015 Resin on wood 7.4 x 3.7 x 5.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Untitled (Tan), 2015 Resin on wood 9.7 x 3.1 x 7 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Kรถnigsholz, 2015 Resin on wood 14.5 x 4 x 6.5 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Ebiara, 2015 Resin on wood 8.7 x 8.7 x 2 in
Harald Schmitz-Schmelzer Vavona Burl, 2015 Resin on wood 9.8 x 8.7 x 2 in
About Us
JanKossen Contemporary, founded in 2009 by Dr Jasmin Kossenjans, is an international dealer of contemporary art representing artists working across disciplines. Its principal focus is the representation of an international group of contemporary artists whose diverse practices include painting, drawing, sculpture, video, large scale installation, and performance. Aside from its represented artists, the gallery collaborates directly on exhibitions and projects with other artists and guest curators. The gallery is committed to presenting its artists’ work in an international context and to firmly establishing their contributions to the cannon of art history. Gallery artists are in the collections of, and have been part of exhibitions at, many museums around the world. Their works have been widely published as artist monographs, in art journals, and among critical theory texts. The gallery operate in Basel, Switzerland, New York, NY; and will open a new exhibition space in Hong Kong in 2019.
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IMPRESSUM CONCEPT, EDITING, AND REALIZATION Jasmin Kossenjans DESIGN Robert Panichpakdee PHOTOGRAPHY JanKossen Contemporary TEXT Yilin Yang No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by no means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.
Published by JanKossen Ltd www.jankossen.com 10th edition © CURRENT DATE All rightsreserved Printed in USA