Alexandra Bircken, Rachal Bradley, Sara Deraedt, Gaylen Gerber, Konrad Klapheck, Ghislaine Leung, Hans-Christian Lotz, Senga Nengudi, Ana Pellicer, Christina Ramberg, Richard Rezac, Diane Simpson, Terre Thaemlitz, Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, Kathleen White
Opening: 13 September 19, 7 pm
Christina Ramberg, Tight Hipped, 1974, Copyright the Estate of Christina Ramberg, Courtesy Collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, The Bill McClain Collection of Chicago Imagism.
“Containing, restraining, reforming, hurting, compressing, binding, transforming a lumpy shape into a clean smooth line,” is how American artist Christina Ramberg (1946–1995) once described the drawings of corsets in her sketchbooks. Ramberg was one of the most intriguing painters to emerge within a generation of Chicago Imagists. She left a significant body of comic, formally elegant, erotically sinister paintings. Operating under the influences of Surrealism, her cropped torsi, sharply delineated and bound in bizarre variations of corsets, bandages, and textures exude an unnerving calm burdened with a conflicted desire. Ramberg’s understanding of the body as an environment that is closely intertwined with its surrounding, shaped by corsets, hairdos as well as behavioral conventions is central to the exhibition at KW Institute for Contemporary Art that summons an analysis of conduct based on her approach as something constructed by the structures that externally and internally determine our existence. A selection of paintings and drawings by Christina Ramberg will form the core of the exhibition, alongside of which other artistic positions such as Alexandra Bircken, Rachal Bradley, Sara Deraedt, Gaylen Gerber, Konrad Klapheck, Ghislaine Leung, Hans Christian Lotz, Senga Nengudi, Ana Pellicer, Richard Rezac, Diane Simpson, Terre Thaemlitz, Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, and Kathleen White will expand the conversation and extend the understanding of the type of framing devices that can be identified as having an impact on and condition performance, behavior, and physical expression.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a substantial publication that brings together newly commissioned writing on Ramberg by art historians and theorists, among others, Anna Gritz, Dr. Larne Abse Gogarty and Judith Russi Kirshner alongside experimental fiction texts by Jen George, and Dodie Bellamy. A large section of the publication will be dedicated to a facsimile reprint of Ramberg’s unique collection of photographic slides.
Curator: Anna Gritz
Assistant Curators: Kathrin Bentele, Léon Kruijswijk
Exhibition Folder (PDF)
Publication
The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue won the AICA Germany award in the category The Special Exhibition 2019.
The exhibition The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue is made possible through support from the Capital Cultural Fund and Terra Foundation for American Art.
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Christina Ramberg, Black Widow, 1971, Courtesy Illinois State Museum, lllinois Legacy Collection; Konrad Klapheck, Der Mann in der Frau (L’homme dans la femme), 1986, Courtesy Private Collection. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Christina Ramberg, Probed Cinch, 1971, Courtesy Private Collection, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Senga Nengudi, A.C.Q. I, 2016–17, Courtesy the artist, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, London, Los Angeles; Lévy Gorvy, New York, London, Hong Kong and Thomas Erben Gallery, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Ana Pellicer, Anillo liliputense, producto de exportación, 1981, Courtesy the artist, Ringier AG / Sammlung Ringier (CH) and Gaga Fine Arts, Mexico and Los Angeles. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Foreground: Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. On the wall: Hans-Christian Lotz, Untitled, 2015, Courtesy the artist and Lars Friedrich, Berlin. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Foreground: Alexandra Bircken, INXS, 2016, Courtesy Collection Danniel Rangel. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, ... And yet we are becoming, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Sara Deraedt, Nilco, 2009, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Kathleen White, The Spark Between L and D, 1988, Courtesy the Estate of Kathleen White and Martos Gallery, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Richard Rezac, Untitled (12-08), 2012. Richard Rezac, Tendril (Thomaskirche), 2016, All works Courtesy the artist and Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin. Ghislaine Leung, GATES, 2019, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Richard Rezac, Nemaha (Pair), 2016, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Terre Thaemlitz, Soulnessless, 2012, Courtesy Comatonse Recordings. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Christina Ramberg, Black Widow, 1971, Courtesy Illinois State Museum, lllinois Legacy Collection. Richard Rezac, Lancaster, 2004, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin. Gaylen Gerber, Backdrop/The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue, n.d., 2019, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Emanuel Layr, Wien / Rom. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Ghislaine Leung, GATES, 2019. Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016. Both works Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Christina Ramberg, Black Widow, 1971, Courtesy Illinois State Museum, lllinois Legacy Collection. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Christina Ramberg, Black Widow, 1971, Courtesy Illinois State Museum, lllinois Legacy Collection; Konrad Klapheck, Der Mann in der Frau (L’homme dans la femme), 1986, Courtesy Private Collection. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Christina Ramberg, Probed Cinch, 1971, Courtesy Private Collection, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Senga Nengudi, A.C.Q. I, 2016–17, Courtesy the artist, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, London, Los Angeles; Lévy Gorvy, New York, London, Hong Kong and Thomas Erben Gallery, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Ana Pellicer, Anillo liliputense, producto de exportación, 1981, Courtesy the artist, Ringier AG / Sammlung Ringier (CH) and Gaga Fine Arts, Mexico and Los Angeles. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Foreground: Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. On the wall: Hans-Christian Lotz, Untitled, 2015, Courtesy the artist and Lars Friedrich, Berlin. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Foreground: Alexandra Bircken, INXS, 2016, Courtesy Collection Danniel Rangel. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, ... And yet we are becoming, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Weiss, Berlin. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Sara Deraedt, Nilco, 2009, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Kathleen White, The Spark Between L and D, 1988, Courtesy the Estate of Kathleen White and Martos Gallery, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Richard Rezac, Untitled (12-08), 2012. Richard Rezac, Tendril (Thomaskirche), 2016, All works Courtesy the artist and Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin. Ghislaine Leung, GATES, 2019, Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Richard Rezac, Nemaha (Pair), 2016, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Terre Thaemlitz, Soulnessless, 2012, Courtesy Comatonse Recordings. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Christina Ramberg, Black Widow, 1971, Courtesy Illinois State Museum, lllinois Legacy Collection. Richard Rezac, Lancaster, 2004, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin. Gaylen Gerber, Backdrop/The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue, n.d., 2019, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Emanuel Layr, Wien / Rom. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
f.l.t.r.: Ghislaine Leung, GATES, 2019. Ghislaine Leung, SHROOMS, 2016. Both works Courtesy the artist and ESSEX STREET, New York. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
Christina Ramberg, Black Widow, 1971, Courtesy Illinois State Museum, lllinois Legacy Collection. Installation view The Making of Husbands: Christina Ramberg in Dialogue at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2019, Photo: Frank Sperling
