24/2 – 13/4 2024
Galerie Mehdi Chouakri (Wilhelm Hallen) | Berlin | Deutschland
Bernd Ribbeck’s artistic essence embodies the fusion of dualities, serving as both a conceptual cornerstone and a driving force behind his creative output. Themes such as the interplay between mathematics and spirituality, the exploration of transcendence versus opacity, and the juxtaposition of space and surface are intricately woven into the fabric of his abstract compositions. Through a process of condensation, Ribbeck transforms these themes into geometric and painterly elements, crafting artworks that evoke a sense of boundless mental expanse. Yet, paradoxically, these artworks themselves occupy physical space, with layers of paint meticulously applied onto MDF surfaces and embellished with pen and pigmented markers. Critic Noemi Smolik eloquently describes the experience of engaging with Ribbeck’s work as a journey through a timeless realm, where beginnings and endings blur into obscurity.
Ribbeck’s artistic journey is one of perpetual exploration, with abstract shapes serving as vessels for his wandering imagination. Drawing inspiration from a myriad of sources, ranging from the cultural depths of modernism to the esoteric codes of outsider art, Ribbeck’s oeuvre is a testament to the fluidity of creative expression. His works transcend traditional notions of truth, instead focusing on the aesthetic interplay of visual thought. As Ribbeck himself articulates, “As a painter, I trust in the power of observation; it is through what I see that my imagination takes flight.”
Born in Germany in 1974, Ribbeck currently resides and creates in Berlin. His artworks have garnered international acclaim, finding homes in esteemed institutional collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum Haus Konstruktiv in Zurich, and the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich, among others. Solo exhibitions at venues like Haus Konstruktiv in Zurich and the Wilhelm-Hack Museum in Ludwigshafen have been accompanied by comprehensive publications from Distanz Verlag, further solidifying Ribbeck’s place within the contemporary art landscape.