Galerie Max Hetzler is pleased to present the work Mono Chrono Pneumatic White, 2006, metal construction, pneumatic mechanism, 394 x 740 x 90,5 cm, by Darren Almond and the painting Annihilator, 2001/2006, inkjet, oil and lacquer on canvas, 374 x 709 cm, by Albert Oehlen in Holzmarktstraße 15-18.
Darren Almond’s digital clock seems to be at first sight monumental and massive. The clock’s open digit areas break and reveal the dismantled mechanics. Albert Oehlen’s painting Annihilator is hung within a distance behind Darren Almond’s time piece. Depending on the actual time, the numbers disclose a certain segment of the mixed-media painting, whereas other parts are not visible.
The reception of time plays a central role in Darren Almond’s work. How is it possible to investigate the subjective observation of the objectively measurable system? Darren Almond constructs clocks, which show time as an objective constant factor and confront the viewer at the same time with a subjective experience. Time is deliberately divided into a visible and audible rhythm. The sound, which evolves while the numbers are changing, could be understood as a warning. The calm and static period between the rotation is an experience of ominous silence or time for contemplation.
Digital media is also used by Albert Oehlen in his work. Since the early 1990’s the artist does paintings which are generated on the computer and transmitted to canvas with a big format inkjet printer. Annihilator is an inkjet print on canvas, overpainted with oil and lacquer.
Darren Almond was born 1971. He lives and works in London. His film installations, sculptures and photographs were shown recently at K21 in Düsseldorf.
Albert Oehlen was born in 1954. He lives and works in Switzerland and in Spain. Since 2000 he holds a professorship at the Art Academy in Düsseldorf. In 2005 a survey of his work was presented at MoCA Miami.
Upcoming exhibitions:
Zimmerstraße 90-91, Glenn Brown (catalogue), February 03 – March 11, 2006, Holzmarktstraße 15-18 and Zimmerstraße, Albert Oehlen (catalogue), March 18 – April 22
