GERWALD ROCKENSCHAUB LADY LINDA
mehdi chouakri
Gerwald Rockenschaub’s new wall objects may recall the shapes of a double heart, chop sticks, automatic drawings, a flower or a balloon. They suggest different levels of perception and an analysis of “almost” abstract forms. The way these works are presented refers to an almost historical art museum style of hanging – in Germany commonly known as “Petersburger Hängung”. This museography is being underlined by a benchlike sculpture combined with a monochrome black wall on the opposite side of the room. In the second room of the exhibition the visitor encounters an example of the artist’s “minimal interventions”, rearranging the space by painting entire walls black, thus emphasising the particular characteristics of the surrounding architecture. This time we encounter a most delicate abstract sculpture. The installation can be entered and invites us at the same time to enjoy the unrestricted view onto another new work, representing a kind of colorful “landscape picture”. This typical play with “high” and “low” reaches another level with the title of the exhibition. Generally the titles of Gerwald Rockenschaub’s exhibitions are of contradictory qualities – a balance also showing the humorous aspects in the artist‘s oeuvre. Like Sentimentale, Ding Dong or Embrace Romance, the title of the current show Lady Linda could just as well be the title of an erotic novel, the name of a great drag queen or a disco hit of the next summer season ...
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All wall objects milled 4 cm MDF sheets, lacquered, 2011 all unique Front cover 90 x 92 x 4 cm (detail) p. 2 110 x 146 x 4 cm (detail) p. 3 50 x 60 x 4 cm (detail) p. 6 – 7 112 x 160 x 4 cm p. 8 100 x 145 x 4 cm (detail) p. 9 lacquered MDF sheets and wooden support structure, 2011 50 x 300 x 50 cm unique p. 12 diptyc (detail) 65 x 30 x 4 cm 100 x 55 x 4 cm p. 13 100 x 115 x 4 cm (detail) p. 14 110 x 100 x 4 cm
p. 15 80 x 90 x 4 cm (detail) p. 16 – 17 lacquered aluminium structure, 2011 260 x 375 x138 cm unique Back cover acrylic glass marquetry and oiled oak frame, 2011 110 x 90 x 5 cm unique
This catalogue was published on the occasion of Gerwald Rockenschaub‘s exhibition Lady Linda at Mehdi Chouakri Gallery, April 29 – June 11, 2011 Photographs by Jan Windszus, Berlin All works © Gerwald Rockenschaub and courtesy Mehdi Chouakri Gallery 1000 copies, printed by Spree Druck, Berlin Lady Linda is the second in a series of publications celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Mehdi Chouakri Gallery
Mehdi Chouakri Invalidenstrasse 117 10115 Berlin T + 49 30 28 39 11 53 F + 49 30 28 39 11 54 galerie@mehdi-chouakri.com www.mehdi-chouakri.com