RECOLLECTION
The latest solo exhibition of Falk Kastell took place in the Villa Böhm in Neustadt an der Weinstraße.
Perfect timing during Covid enabled a record number of visitors to be able to visit the venue.
It took place from Oct.9 until Nov.1 2020.
The Kunstverein Neustadt an der Weinstraße was the host to this event, where Falk had previously won the young artists prize in March of 2020.
The exhibition focused on the power of memories by exploring artworks expressed in all genres and media.
Combining the inner and outer space of the Villa with the works, lead to an intimate experience of emotional flows and intellectual exploration.
Superimposing paintings and photographs of the same image helped to feel the difference in impact each genre has.
Each of the rooms showed a different aspect of memories. Be it through drawings, paintings, video art, installation or photographs, deriving from personal stories, encounters with strangers or friends.
This expansive exhibition showcased the broad versatility of the artist Falk Kastell and deepened the understanding of how human connection is the single most valuable resource to our lives.
OLYMPIADA
The most iconic of works from Falk Kastell showing a young woman gazing at the viewer, making direct emotional contact. A refined composition of emotions wrapped in an elegant rendition of all that is ennobling and worthwhile about the human being.
The smaller version on the ground is a print of the original photograph from 2011 and the large version leaning against the wall is a painting of the same image in oil on canvas.
This installation is the peace treaty between the historic rivals of photography and painting. The historic tension between the two mediums of photography and painting is laid to rest and both peacefully and powerfully coexist in this exhibition.
Each rendition reveals different emotional facets of the work and together bring out a more complete picture.
GOLDEN SOUND
The entry to the exhibition is marked by another realistic painting in oil on canvas of a photograph titled “Golden Sound”.
This work shows that connections to other humans are often invisible and intangible yet these are the connections that uphold our life.
FLORA BACON
This painting in oil shows a young woman adorned with flowers. The flowers are playfully arranged to resemble a distorted face with exaggerated facial features.
Inspired by the traumatized and traumatizing works of Francis Bacon, the ever creative works of Hieronymus Bosch and Guiseppe Archimbaldo, Flora Bacon becomes a beacon of positive motivation amidst the most bizarre and grueling circumstances.
When life gives you a lemon,
make lemonade from it.
Eternal hellos and goodbyes
The kinetic sculpture in the center of the room is a child´s bronze arm, constantly waving hello and goodbye.
It serves as a reminder to always anticipate change.
Herman Hesse´s famous poem "Lebenstufen" inspired this work.
"One should with every new beginning
prepare to say goodbye."
Greed
This installation is a resume of sources and solutions to human suffering.
It describes the circles of exuberant luxury and soul wrenching poverty.
The work to the far right is titled "Greed" (Die Gier).
It is made from the newspaper sections of the stock market report, which had been placed on the rainy streets during autumn and run over by cars until the pebbles had eaten their way through the material.
It was then mounted into the shape of a stockbroker or banker looking at his phone to check his profits.
The greed for profit has completely torn and eaten him up inside and made him vanish from anything human into indistinguishable oblivion.
Cinema
Several video installations were shown during the exhibition including, documentaries, intimate video portraits and above all a lot of dance films.
The baroque inspired reception salon of the Villa Böhm with its sumptuous decor and gilded plaster ceiling housed the cinema. Surrounded by 17th and 18th century paintings the set up of the hand colored fabric (30m in length) mimicked the flowing design of the salons decoration and blended the contemporary aspects of video installation and the art of the old masters.
Unity
This unique sculpture is a triumph a 3D illusion. Both halves are male and female body and depending on the point of view change gender.
They seem to dance with and around each other, distancing and then closing in again, to kiss, embrace, flee and free each other.
Shadow
Another work inspired by the masters of the past is this series titled "Schatten" (Shadows).
Exploring classical composition and lighting with contemporary media, Rembrandt´s unique style of painting served as the base to develop this unique portrait.
The treasures of the past come to light through the shadows.
Portraits
Every possible space was used to integrate works of art such as this suprematist portrait of a woman.
Photographs
Throughout the exhibition runs a thread of photographs accompanying and complementing the other artworks.
They all stem from a large photography project from 2015 called
"La belle époque".
The photographs follow a beautiful young man through his everyday life of high standards, revealing what lies behind the facade of glamour and attraction. They serve as intellectual counterpoints to stress the critical message of the works.
In the arms of an angel
Many works shown in the exhibition follow biblical stories and bring them to life in contemporary contexts.
In this large painting we see a mother figure tenderly holding a man in her lap.
The painting can be turned in three directions to tell the story of the conception, the upbringing and end to the life of Christ.
Cabinet of curiosities
This little room housed the many personal portraits of young people.
All these portraits come from personal encounters of friends and acquaintances the artist had over the years and who were willing to sit for a portrait.
