Amelie von Wulffen, Untitled, 2019, Oil on canvas, Courtesy the artist, and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin, Galerie Meyer Kainer, Vienna, Gio Marconi, Milan, and Fitzpatrick Gallery, Paris
KW Institute for Contemporary Art is pleased to present Berlin-based artist Amelie von Wulffen (born in 1966, DE) who has long established herself internationally as one of Germany’s most important painters. The exhibition at KW marks von Wulffen’s first institutional solo show in Berlin and presents a comprehensive body of new commissions among a survey of selected existing works.
Since the 1990s, von Wulffen has created a sophisticated and unique oeuvre that enquires into the historic, economic, and social conditions of painting. Highly self-reflexive, von Wulffen’s practice expands to include the artist herself. She frequently appears in her own work in different guises, interweaving her family’s past with national history and existential questions about a specifically German cultural heritage. Von Wulffen’s works purposefully juxtapose aesthetic incongruities and combine different styles of painting from art history and amateur art to re-purpose their associative weight. In that respect, her work reads as a meta-reflection on the aesthetic incongruities of both post-war Germany as well as contemporary popular and political culture. This effect is compounded by the inclusion of references to decorative arts, furniture and architectural elements.
Similar to von Wulffen’s previous painting cycles, her new paintings also reflect upon the abysmal dimensions of the family as a site which embodies love and culture as much as it uncovers grim problems and repression. By carrying the idea of emancipation and liberation from one’s own parents, these works have a strong emotional quality. Newly produced small sculptures are arranged in a scenographic, painted genre installation—a dramatic cabinet of curiosities of sorts which circles around the relationship between humans and nature, one which, despite vast environmental destruction, is still dominated by romantic projections of landscape and nature. The installation is accompanied by a selection of existing paintings, drawings, furniture, sculptures, and films by the artist. A publication of von Wulffen’s comics collected from 2011 to 2020 is published by Walther König.
Accompanying the solo exhibition by Amelie von Wulffen, after the butcher – Ausstellungsraum für zeitgenössische Kunst und soziale Fragen in collaboration with KW presents the exhibition Stadt und Knete. Positionen der 1990er Jahre, in which mainly collective artistic works by A-Clip, Gummi K / MicroStudio Surplus (Alice Creischer, Martin Ebner, Christoph Keller, Ariane Müller, Andreas Siekmann, Nicolas Siepen, Josef Strau, Klaus Weber, Amelie von Wulffen), Jaaaa (Alice Creischer, Ariane Müller, Andreas Siekmann, Josef Strau, Amelie von Wulffen) & Protzband Nicolas Siepen, Siegfried Koepf & Martin Ebner & Gunter Reski, Josef Kramhöller, NEID, Annette Wehrmann, Ina Wudtke, Amelie von Wulffen, and others are shown from 1 December 2020 – 8 Januar 2021.
Curator: Anna Gritz
Assistant Curator: Kathrin Bentele
Exhibition leaflet (PDF)
Amelie von Wulffen, exhibition walk-through with curator Anna Gritz, 2020, Production: Tara Afsah, Alexander Brack
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Front: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2020; back: The Flight of the Hunter, 2017; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Front: Amelie von Wulffen, Biene Maja, 2020; back: Bernsteinzimmer, 2019/20; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Wer hätte das gedacht?, 2020; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Biene Maja, 2020; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2018; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
F.l.t.r.: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2016; Ohne Titel, 2019; Ohne Titel, 2019; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist, Galerie Barbara Weiss, and Manfred Pernice, Berlin; Photo: Frank Sperling
Left: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 1998–1999; right: Ohne Titel, 1998; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy The Craig Robins Collection; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
F.l.t.r.: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2009; Ohne Titel, 2009; Ohne Titel, 2009; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and private collection; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Front: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2020; back: The Flight of the Hunter, 2017; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Front: Amelie von Wulffen, Biene Maja, 2020; back: Bernsteinzimmer, 2019/20; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Wer hätte das gedacht?, 2020; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Biene Maja, 2020; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2018; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
F.l.t.r.: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2016; Ohne Titel, 2019; Ohne Titel, 2019; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist, Galerie Barbara Weiss, and Manfred Pernice, Berlin; Photo: Frank Sperling
Left: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 1998–1999; right: Ohne Titel, 1998; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy The Craig Robins Collection; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
F.l.t.r.: Amelie von Wulffen, Ohne Titel, 2009; Ohne Titel, 2009; Ohne Titel, 2009; Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Courtesy the artist and private collection; Photo: Frank Sperling
Amelie von Wulffen, Installation view of the exhibition Amelie von Wulffen at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020; Photo: Frank Sperling
The exhibition by Amelie von Wulffen is supported by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Berlin.
The exhibition Stadt und Knete. Positionen der 1990er Jahre at after the butcher – Ausstellungsraum für zeitgenössische Kunst und soziale Fragen is taking place in collaboration with KW.
Media partner: Spike Art Magazine