Paintings and Drawings 1974 - 2009
21.06.2024 – 17.08.2024
Hermann Abrell
Galerie Siedlarek
Galerie Siedlarek is pleased to present a solo exhibition of German post-war minimalist Hermann Abrell (1937 - 2017), showcasing nearly 50 years of his oeuvre. This rare survey focusses on his paintings and drawings created between 1974 and 2009.
Hermann Abrell’s artistic legacy is recognized for its contemplative and dynamic qualities, deeply rooted in the fundamental simplicity and profundity of the line as both a visual and conceptual element. His practice is distinguished by its repetitive and layered linework, engendering complex visual effects that oscillate between depth and motion, between rigorous structure and organic fluidity.
Abrell established his practice across a variety of media, ranging from small and delicate works on paper to large scale canvases, often blurring the traditional boundaries between painting and drawing. A preferred medium was ink on canvas, where his meticulous technique involved constructing fine grids on unprimed canvas, marked by subtle variations in his brushstrokes.
Until 1984, Abrell frequently intersected vertical and horizontal lines to formulate dense, grid-like compositions. Post-1984, he pivoted to a predominantly vertical orientation, accentuating the dynamic and meditative aspects of the vertical line. This evolution also introduced variations in line density, creating contrasting zones where the painting ground either subtly peeks through or is entirely consumed by black, adding a pulsating vitality to his seemingly uniform compositions.
From 1989 onwards, Abrell's exploration ventured into the realm of color. He retained his focus on vertical lines but began to delineate color fields with nuanced shades. His approach involved the application of multiple layers, achieving an intricate interplay of color and line.
Abrell lived and worked in Cologne. His work has been exhibited in renowned institutions such as the Kolumba Museum in Cologne, the Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, or the Rheinische Landesmuseum Bonn, and is held in major public collections, including the Bundeskunstsammlung (Federal Collection of Contemporary Art), and the collection of the ZKM (Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe).
This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the estate of Hermann Abrell, represented by Sebastian Fath Contemporary, Mannheim.
Galerie Siedlarek
Fahrgasse 20
60311 Frankfurt am Main
T. 0176 80 45 26 51
Mi – Fr 12–18 Uhr
Sa 12–16 Uhr