FROM THE TABLE TO THE WALL - PLATES À LA STEFAN MARX
Handling porcelain is a challenge that requires a great deal of experience. Contemporary artists also take on this task for KPM Berlin. Stefan Marx is one of them. Today, Marx has a permanent workplace in the KPM Master Painting Department, where he artistically explores the white material. A selection of the results of his work with porcelain can currently be admired in his fourth solo exhibition RIDICULOUS DRAMA at the Cologne gallery Ruttkowski;68. We tell you more...
The Berlin-based illustrator and KPM Berlin have enjoyed a close friendship for two years, which began as part of a joint project with the Süddeutsche Zeitung magazine. Further collaborations and visits to the manufactory followed. Today, Marx even has a permanent workplace in the painting department, where he brings the white KPM porcelain to life with his world-famous drawings. The results of his work with porcelain could be admired in his solo exhibition ANOTHER WEEKEND, among others. In spring 2019, he presented porcelain vases painted by him in the Paris branch of the trendy Cologne art gallery Ruttkowski;68. He chose not just any model, but one of KPM Berlin's most prominent ones: HALLE by Marguerite Friedlaender-Wildenhain. The messages and colors in various shades are in dialogue with the colorful canvas works, which are reminiscent of signs and protest posters - and have the recurring monotony of a weekend as their theme.
This year, Stefan Marx is celebrating his fourth solo exhibition for Ruttkowski;68, this time presenting a selection of his typically melancholic music typographies and caricatures. A large-scale installation of his reinterpreted version of the wall plate on KPM porcelain can also be admired until March 22, 2020 as part of the Ridiculous Drama exhibition in Cologne.
About Ruttkowski;68
The art gallery Ruttkowski;68, based in Cologne and Paris, was founded in 2010 by Nils Müller. The gallery focuses on a wide range of practices within contemporary art, including painting, media art, sculpture and installations, taking a non-hierarchical approach to different scenes and artistic backgrounds. This is because no distinctions are to be made between art, fashion or music, nor between a supposed high or low culture, insider knowledge or the masses. Find out more about Ruttkowski;68 here.
Stefan Marx and KPM Berlin
Stefan Marx is particularly fond of the iconic URBINO series. He has been using it to stage his well-known "Sundaayyyyssss" motifs since 2017. For the artist, the drawn dog embodies his personal aversion to Sundays, which he combats with his humorous drawings.
For the first edition in winter 2017, Marx focused on the espresso items in the URBINO series. In summer 2018, he then turned his attention to the coffee service.
After designing each piece of porcelain for the first two joint KPM+ Sundaayyyssss editions for coffee and espresso by hand himself and under the guidance of the KPM master painters, he quickly became a permanent guest and soon became part of the interior of the capital's painting studio. During his visits, the two creative partners were quickly able to convince each other of the conscientious working techniques, experiment together and discover synergies that inspired their creativity. This laid the foundation for the third KPM+ Sundaayyyssss Edition: the Tea Time Edition, which - in keeping with the fall-winter season and driven by the artist's passion for Japan - invites you to take high tea with URBINO porcelain.
KPM Berlin is delighted to be able to support Stefan Marx as a partner in the course of his Ridiculous Drama exhibition and congratulates him on the successful exhibition.
Photos: Holger Talinski ( HALLE vase and Urbino tea vessels) and Galerie Ruttkowski;68 (Ridiculous Drama exhibition)
