Placeholder

Tuesday February 27, 2018 | by Valerie Hughes

EXHIBITION: German foundation presents glass works by major contemporary artists organized around a common theme

In Munich, Germany, the Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung’s exhibition "Viewing the Other" features a significant collection of glass works from big-name contemporary artists such as Tony Cragg, Mona Hatoum, Ki-Ra Kim, Raimund Kummer, Alejandra Seeber, Kiki Smith, and Pae White. The exhibition will remain on view until June 29, 2018. With its focus on modern sculpture and photography, the Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung is a former sculptor studio in an Art Nouveau villa in Munich-Schwabing that was established as a nonprofit foundation in December 2000.

The contradictions of the world, whether they be of society, individuals, or nature, are thematically displayed in "Viewing the Other." Life versus death, chaos versus calm, and the self versus another are just a few of the themes that emphasize the idea of the “other.” "Viewing the Other" seeks to draw attention to artists’ growing use for glass material. In the exhibition announcement, Tutsek-Stiftung Foundation chair Dr. Eva-Maria Fahrner-Tutsek, says: “The appreciation of the material glass has increased significantly in contemporary art.”

"Viewing the Other" unifies a diverse range artists from all over the world. Cragg was born in Liverpool and makes twisting sculptures from bronze, marble, or wood, as well as glass. Hatoum is from Palestine, while Ki-Ra Kim was born in Incheon, Korea. Kummer was born in Germany and Seeber is an Argentinian painter. White was born in California and works out of Los Angeles today as a visual artist.

German-born American artist Kiki Smith began using glass in her works in the mid-1980s. She creates works inspired by her environment’s social, political, philosophical, and spiritual aspects. Throughout her career, she has explored a wide range of mediums and incorporated glass into her methods, as seen in the combination of glass and paint in Saint Geneviève and the Deer (1999).

Similarly, other artists in the exhibit do not come from a glass background. Seeber primarily works with paint and Hatoum is a known video artist, while Kummer is known for his photography. A question underlies the exhibit: what caused these artists to turn to glass as their medium?

Glass tells stories by reflecting and refracting light. It has a wide range of technical possibilities along with a vast history. Although the answer to the prior question is not explicitly said, "Viewing the Other"shows the countless possibilities of glass through the work of renowned and innovative artists.

IF YOU GO:

Tony Cragg, Mona Hatoum, Ki-Ra Kim, Raimund Kummer, Alejandra Seeber, Kiki Smith and Pae White
“Viewing the Other”
January 26, 2018 - June 29, 2018
Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung
Karl-Theodor-Straße 27
80803 München, Germany
Tel: +49.89.552730611
Website: https://www.atutsek-stiftung.de/?lang=en

Glass: The UrbanGlass Quarterly, a glossy art magazine published four times a year by UrbanGlass has provided a critical context to the most important artwork being done in the medium of glass for more than 40 years.