Seizan Gallery New York
September
7 – October 21, 2023 EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 2
OPENING RECEPTION: September 7, 6-8 pm
SEIZAN
Gallery New York is pleased to announce Pretty
Shiny Stuff, a solo exhibition
of works by German artist Astrid Köppe from September 7th through
October 21st, 2023. The opening reception with the artist is
Thursday, September 7th, 6-8pm. Located in one of the gallery’s
newly renovated exhibition spaces, the show features 30 pieces from
the artist’s vast oeuvre of A4 size drawings. Four large format
enamel-coated steel panel works are also on view. This is the
artist's first solo exhibition in New York.
Astrid
Köppe has worked with dedication to a single format of drawing for
over twenty years. The focus is on biomorphic shapes meticulously
rendered at the center of vertical white
paper. Her use of mechanical pencils and watercolor reference
illustrations from pre-photography era botanical and medical
textbooks. Industrial design and classic science fiction illustration
are also suggested. Just as the strange shapes begin to make sense,
they slip away, refusing easy categorization. The artist consciously
weaves riddles into each work.
Köppe
starts a drawing with a precise visualization in mind. Each object
(shape or pattern) is rendered “accurately” and convincingly.
Yet, viewers cannot figure out exactly what they are looking at.
Köppe plays with what she calls “pretend 3-D effect,” giving
shades to objects only to confuse perspective. Iridescent watercolors
add extra layers of complexity.
The
exhibition also includes four works made by vitreous enameling on
steel plates, a technique traditionally used for industrial signage.
In these pieces Köppe explores scaling up from the drawings. Working
with a fabricator, the artist applies vitreous enamel onto steel
plate by spraying through stencils, dripping onto the plate,
scratching around wet enamel. The glossy kiln-fired works are related
to the drawings yet present a dramatic contrast.
For
press and sales inquiries, please email to info@seizan-gallery.com
SEIZAN
Gallery New York
525 W26th St. Ground Floor
New York, NY
10001
Tel: 917-409-0699
www.seizan-gallery.com
Gallery
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am-6pm
