Samuel Blaser, Christian Denzler, Radenko Milak, Kotscha Reist: ‹(Hi)Stories›

(Hi)Stories is an exciting group exhibition that combines four different artistic positions dedicated to figurative art. Also, the artists’ most recent works analyse individual myths by putting them in a universal context. The resulting stories are open-ended and told in various media: paintings, drawings, objects and texts.

Samuel Blaser’s oeuvre can be divided into four main groups: There are his portraits, which are of particular importance, then his symbolically charged miniatures, his depictions of absurd situations of human existence, and his metaphoric as well as quite concrete landscapes. His works oscillate between seriousness and humour, sadness and carefree joyfulness. Whatever their moods, however, they are always painterly in technique – sometimes simplified, sometimes rather complex in composition.

Christian Denzler’s works have never been seen in the gallery before. (Hi)Stories is an opportunity to welcome and introduce our new gallery artist. He presents a small part of his extensive work, which is characterised by an equal treatment of drawing and painting. Denzler celebrates this artistic point of view in several different techniques, text being one of them, and here, for the first time, shown in the form of sculptures.

Radenko Milak’s works demonstrate clear contrasts of light and dark. He combines personal experiences and historical snapshots into new compositions – composition, however, that hide little traps to trip you up. His drawings consist of layers of black water colour, created by means of a special flow technique and a particular handling of the brush.

Kotscha Reist’s paintings are based on photographs he transfers onto canvas or paper in a process of free interpretation. More often than not these references are taken from newspapers and magazines, although he does use his own or found photographs. What we see is a cosmos of past and present, unfolding before our eyes in forms that are sometimes faint and shadowy, sometimes impressive and strong. Landscapes and interiors coexist happily with figurative works and still lifes.

Bernhard Bischoff, August 2014