goldbach
Clemens Botho Goldbach – Unterholz
When New Romanticsm meets Land Art - Caspar David Friedrich revisited
Goldbach, who sees himself as a hunter, gatherer and poet, manages to transfer a landscape inspired by the painting “Gehölz im Schnee” by Caspar David Friedrich with tremendous accuracy inevitably evoking a trompe l’oeil effect. Gallerist Natascha Mehlhop, director of Brussels Flamingo, describes Goldbachs’ installations:
Goldbach's walk in space installations appear to be a retreat where man would like to hide. They represent an anti-universe where no futility exists and where emphasis is on the ensemble – perfect harmony between man and nature. This early romanticism approach is also reflected in his highly expressive drawings.
In Goldbach's installations, assumedly “poor” material, such as branches, stone, greenery and soil, gain - when placed into the new context as a piece of illusionary nature – a new vitality and fresh meaning. The illusion is perfect. Only on closer inspection the countless manipulations become visible. Every installation is preceded by an in-depth study of the empty exhibition space that always enables Goldbach to fit in his landscapes in the ideal way. When mounting the installation, Goldbach is challenged to balance mathematical calculus and artistic imagination. He captures this tension in beautifully detailed atmospheric drawings that are as well on display.
Clemens B. Goldbach, born in 1979 in Cologne, studied with Gunther Keusen and Daniele Buetti at the Academy of Fine Arts in Münster. In 2007, he received the recognition award for young artists by the Region of Westfalia leading to the exhibition “Linien.Laub” at the “Glaskasten” Museum in Marl, Germany (ongoing until 10 February) and an extensive monograph. Currently, he is working and living as a fellow of the chancellery Northrhine-Westfalia at Ringenberg Castle in Germany.