BREMEN.- For the first time in over three decades, Kunsthalle Bremen is set to host an extensive exhibition showcasing the woodcut works of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938), one of the foremost figures of the Expressionist movement. The exhibition, titled “Kirchner Holzschnitte. Benjamin Badock, Gabriela Jolowicz und Thomas Kilpper,” opens on November 9, 2024, and will run until March 9, 2025. This monumental showcase features a curated selection of 180 graphic pieces, highlighting Kirchner’s pivotal role in revolutionizing the woodcut medium.
Kirchner is celebrated as a pre-revolutionary innovator of woodcut artistry, and this exhibition places his work at the center of a vibrant dialogue with contemporary artists Benjamin Badock, Gabriela Jolowicz, and Thomas Kilpper. These modern artists reinterpret Kirchner’s motifs and techniques, creating breathtaking spatial installations that bridge the past and present.
The exhibition offers a chronological journey through all phases of Kirchner’s prolific career. It begins with his confident departure from Dresden as a young architecture student and the founding of the artist group “Brücke” in 1905. Visitors will witness his early woodcuts that capture the dynamic energy of urban life, featuring scenes from Berlin’s bustling streets and serene alpine panoramas from his adopted home in Davos. The display progresses through the tumultuous years of World War I, reflecting Kirchner’s psychological struggles, mental breakdowns, and stays in sanatoriums across Berlin, the Taunus, and Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance. The exhibition culminates with his near-reclusive retreat to the Swiss mountains, where he tragically took his own life in June 1938 amidst fears of a second world war.
Kirchner’s woodcuts are renowned for their raw portrayal of human existence, capturing themes of desire, painful solitude, fear, and the longing for peace. His works depict people in vibrant cities, strikingly dressed prostitutes, emotionally charged portraits, and tranquil landscapes with grazing animals. The powerful expressiveness and energy of his woodcuts underscore the enduring relevance and adaptability of this ancient graphic medium in contemporary art.
Adding a contemporary dimension, artists Benjamin Badock, Gabriela Jolowicz, and Thomas Kilpper engage deeply with Kirchner’s artistic vision. They develop new woodcuts and elaborate spatial installations that echo Kirchner’s studio environment, his living spaces, and his distinctive visual worlds. These modern interpretations explore biographical, thematic, and stylistic elements, experimenting boldly with the woodcut medium to create immersive experiences.
Benjamin Badock, born in 1974 in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz), employs large-format color woodcuts to playfully navigate the balance between typification and individualization, drawing parallels with Kirchner’s later works. Badock’s process involves the meticulous use of overlapping printed modules, each piece crafted by hand, resulting in unique prints with painterly qualities. Inspired by Kirchner’s subdued color palette from his Davos period, Badock creates sophisticated spatial arrangements that resonate with the original artist’s aesthetic.
Gabriela Jolowicz, born in 1978 in Salzgitter, is renowned for her large-scale black-and-white woodcuts. Her keen observation of urban environments and the people within them forms a natural connection to Kirchner’s work. Jolowicz revisits characters from Kirchner’s pieces, continuing their stories in the present day. Her intricate images evoke both the traditional essence of woodcutting and the contemporary flair of graphic novel aesthetics, bridging historical and modern narrative styles.
Thomas Kilpper, a woodcutter and artist-activist born in 1956 in Stuttgart, often integrates himself literally into the exhibition space. He transforms the floor into an expansive print bed, with impressions extending to ceilings and walls, creating a resonant echo within the space. Kilpper’s projects are preceded by thorough research, reflecting a critical examination of current events. His work engages in a meaningful dialogue with Kirchner’s worldview, offering a contemplative reflection on modern societal issues.
The exhibition features approximately 180 Kirchner pieces sourced from a private collection, complemented by works from Kunsthalle Bremen’s own holdings. In addition to presenting the historical masterpieces, Badock, Jolowicz, and Kilpper contribute both their established works and numerous new creations specifically developed for this exhibition. Their contributions demonstrate the timeless versatility and contemporary relevance of the woodcut medium, presenting it in innovative dimensions.
“Kunsthalle Bremen is thrilled to present this unparalleled exhibition of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s woodcuts, enhanced by the visionary interpretations of Badock, Jolowicz, and Kilpper,” said the exhibition curator. “This event not only honors Kirchner’s legacy but also showcases the enduring power of woodcut art through the creative lenses of today’s artists.”
Visitors can explore this rich interplay of historical and modern artistry from November 9, 2024, to March 9, 2025, at Kunsthalle Bremen. The exhibition promises to be a compelling journey through expressionist mastery and contemporary innovation, celebrating the profound impact of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and the evolving art of woodcutting.
