Introduction in the work of Stefan à Wengen during the opening at September 4 by Edwin Becker, headcurator of the Van Gogh Museum, at 15.00 h.
Stefan à Wengen is one of the most important painters of contemporary figurative painting in Germany. In his work, à Wengen refers to the so-called cultural memory; to Western iconography and its images. In doing so, he constantly interprets these images and repeatedly interweaves non-European art and its sometimes enigmatic messages in his themes.
Since the nineties à Wengen has been working on large series in which he questions our cultural codes and ideas. À Wengen can sometimes immerse himself for years in a certain theme, only to plunge into something completely new in the next series. À Wengen’s versatility is reminiscent of Albrecht Dürer, who not coincidentally inspired him for one of his newest works: a life-size charcoal drawing of a rhinoceros.
What is special about à Wengen’s work is that it has a solid conceptual foundation, but is also exceptionally rich from an aesthetic point of view. His layered images can always be interpreted in several ways. While one viewer is immediately attracted to the image, the serial or conceptual idea of his work will attract the attention of another viewer. It is this unique density of aesthetics and concept that will please the attentive observer.
The animal is a recurring theme in à Wengen’s oeuvre and is also central to the Animal Farm exhibition. The very meaning of the word ‘animal’, which is derived from the Latin animus and which means ‘breath’, ‘life’ and above all ‘soul’, motivates à Wengen to discover in the animal what we sometimes believe to see in ourselves.
Although Stefan à Wengen isn’t well known in the Netherlands, internationally he has already earned his marks. His works are shown in numerous exhibitions and they can be found in important public and private collections in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the US and Switzerland, including Museum van Bommel van Dam, Kunstmuseum Basel and Kunstmuseum Luzern.