At 4 pm on May 3, 2014, German artist Tobias Rehberger’s first solo show in China was unveiled at Galerie Urs Meile in Caochangdi, Beijing. Tobias Rehberger was born in Esslingen, Germany in 1966, and he currently lives and works in Frankfurt. Meanwhile he is one of the most important German artists of his generation, the 2009 Biennale di Venezia Golden Lion winner and regularly straddles the lines between the realms of painting, sculpture, design, architecture, and conceptual art, shaping a body of work that is as dynamic as it is celebrated. For him, any art form is a way to express concept, never to be constrained by any particular limitation in the creation.

The opening ceremony was conducted using an interaction between the audience and work, being relaxed, casual and fun. Guests assembled in front of Tobias Rehberger’s work “HOMEAWAY (Oppenheimer Drawings I)”, comfortably tasting red wine. The artist himself was on site and talked with the audience. Work HOMEAWAY recreates a local bar in Frankfurt which Tobias Rehberger has loved for twenty five years, the Oppenheimer bar, made of porcelain without a glaze that is presented in Beijing, the real function of a bar counter. In addition, the artist deliberately keeps the porous characteristics of a bar counter, the surface of which is easy to stain, scratch, as well a variety of tags, affectionately called “traces of memory” by Tobias Rehberger, so that it is closer to a real bar. Tobias Rehberger pays attention to the combination of art and life in his work, reminding the viewer to reflect on the boundaries of art.

It presents the newest works produced in Beijing and Jingdezhe by the artist. It includes some large colorful installations, and sculptural creations related to a conversion of memory medium and a physical presentation. Although these works are on display in Beijing, Tobias Rehberger doesn't think his creation is limited to a particular exhibition space nor specifically devised for Beijing. He said that it was also interesting to present his works in Paris, Hong Kong or any other geographical areas. He is very good at grasping the characteristics of the ceramic material, showing the exploration of the diversity and ambiguity of horizon in his works, and makes full use of the unusual things in life to reproduce beauty, to create the infinite possibility of art. His creation of works can be understood from multiple aspects, and can be repeatedly adapted to the environment where they want to be able to play a role. In this way, the works by Tobias Rehberger gradually evolved into chaos being full of dazzling shapes and colors, which is unexpected and very interesting.

The exhibition will last until July 6, 2014. Galerie Urs Meile opens at 11:00 – 18:30 every Tuesday through to Sunday.

Journalist: Zhang Gaoshan, partially translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/ CAFA ART INFO

Photo courtesy of the artist and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing – Lucerne.