Möbius, Jürgen (*1939 Großenhain), Tectonic Tension, 1981
Jürgen Möbius(*1939 Großenhain), Tectonic Tension . Oil on hardboard, 47.5 x 60 cm, 49 x 61.5 cm (frame), signed lower right "Möbius" and dated "[19]81".
- Upper left corner with a small chip, light scratches and a little rubbed in places. Provisional gallery frame with traces of use.
Exposé as PDF
- Archetypes of Painting -
The form structure in front of the eye is overlapped by the frame. Thus, the frame does not open up a space in which something is presented, but rather shows the seemingly arbitrary section of a comprehensive context that cannot be framed as such.
We see forms that stand in a structure of tension with each other, whereby the individual black and brown forms, which continue almost endlessly beyond the frame, already show a tension in themselves, since they are not only forms, but also surfaces - form surfaces, while the light blue surface ground is at the same time forms that appear as surface forms. The formed surfaces and surface forms are nested within each other and form a structure that encompasses all elements.
The angular arrangement of the black and brown shaped surfaces gives the structure a tectonic character. The tension is thus heightened to the point of paradox, since the black shape at the front is overlapped by the brown shape at the bottom in the center of the picture, which would be impossible in real space. It is precisely through this "paradox" that Möbius demonstrates that the paradoxical is reality within painting. It is, so to speak, the most original possibility of painting, which distinguishes it from the other arts. In combination with the tectonic formations, Jürgen Möbius creates an archaic primordial painting, which, however, should not be confused with the autonomous color and form cosmos of Suprematism à la Kasimir Malevich. Instead of homogeneous, perfectly colored forms, here the colors are deliberately applied unevenly, and the light blue is mixed with the brown in a manner determined by the brushstroke. At the edges of the surface forms, the uneven application of paint allows the wood of the unprimed hardboard to show through. In this way, Möbius illustrates that we are dealing with a painting that has been created by an act of painting - an act, however, that takes hold of the original principles of painting and thus realizes painting as such.
About the artist
From 1959 to 1965 Jürgen Möbius studied painting at the University Institute for Art and Work Education in Mainz. He also studied philosophy and art history at the University of Mainz. Afterwards he worked as a freelance artist in Mainz.
At first, Möbius created material reliefs and installations, then, around 1974, he turned increasingly to conceptual art and added cinematic means. During this phase he wrote the manifesto-like essay "Principles of Supranatural Landscape" (1979).
From 1981 on, Möbius concentrated on painting and searched for artistic ways to "treat intellectual and sensual perception equally in the fusion of representational and abstract pictorial elements" (Wolfgang Zemter). He found inspiration on his study trips to Thailand and Sri Lanka.
"The pure painting of Jürgen Möbius flows through us as a timeless expression of memory and energy, ploughing our perception and bringing us the happiness of seeing authentic, immovable form.
- Philippe Büttner
Selection of solo exhibitions
1969 Galerie Würzner, Düsseldorf / Galerie Gurlitt, Mainz
1972 Städtische Galerie, Mainz
1973 Galerie Schloss Ringenberg Rathaus, Kleve
1974 Röderhausmuseum, Wuppertal
1976 Galerie Glasing, Osnabrück / Städtische Galerie, Herne
1977, 1997, 2004 Märkisches Museum, Witten
1979 Studio M, Bamberg / Staatstheater, Darmstadt
1980 Galerie Stolànovà, Wiesbaden / Mittelrheinmuseum, Koblenz
1982 Galerie Dornhöfer, Mainz
1984 Galerie Neumühle, Schlangenbad
1985 Landesmuseum, Mainz / Kunstverein, Ludwigshafen / Nassauischer Kunstverein, Wiesbaden
1986 Museum, Bochum / Galerie der Stadt Iserlohn
1987, 1990 Galerie Klaus Kiefer, Essen
1987, 2000 Galerie Ulrike Buschlinger, Wiesbaden
1988 Kunsthalle Darmstadt
1988, 1992, 1996, 1999 Galerie Leonhard, Basel
1992, 2002 Galerie Zulauf, Freisheim
1994 Galerie Remy, Vallendar
1995 Sendezentrum des Zweiten Deutschen Fernsehens, Mainz
2001 Collegium oecumenicum, Bamberg / MVB Forum für Kultur und Wirtschaft, Mainz
2006 Adam Gallery, London
Selection of group exhibitions
1969 ‘International Graphic Arts’, Galerie Dalléas Bordeaux, Paris
1975 ‘Deutscher Künstler-Bund’, Dortmund
1979 ‘Man and man’s Images’, Märkisches Museum Witten
1980 ‘Love-Dokuments of our Time’, Art Hall Darmstadt and Art Association Hannover
1982 ‘Work - Progress – Position’, Nassau Art Association Wiesbaden
1983 ‘Principle Hope – Utopic Aspects in Art and Culture of the 20th Century’, Museum Bochum
1986 ‘Selfportraits’, Gallery Klaus Kiefer Essen
1987 ‘The Dying and Death’, Gallery Klaus Kiefer Essen
1989 ‘Where are You, Revolution – Freedom, Liberty, Egality, Fraternity to-day’, Museum Bochum 1990 ‘Flight – a Problem within the Memory of Man’, Kunsthalle Darmstadt ‘Art and War 1939 – 89’, House of Cultures Berlin
1991 ‘Material and Form’, Pillnitz Castle Dresden and Pfalz Gallery Kaiserslautern
1995 20 Years Exhibitions, Chrämerhuus Langenthal, Schweiz
1998 ‘Works on Paper’, Klaus Kiefer Gallery Essen
2000 ‘Acquisitions 1900 – 2000’, Mittelrhein-Museum Koblenz
2001 ‘Strange Pictures’, Klaus Kiefer Gallery Essen
2002 ‘10 Years Buschlinger Gallery’, Buschlinger Gallery Wiesbaden
2004 ‘Eternal Space – Pictures and Sculptures’, Dome of Bamberg
2005 Art Fair Chicago, Adam Gallery, London
Selected Bibliography
Mittelrheinisches Landesmuseum (Hrsg.): Jürgen Möbius - Neue Bilder, Mainz 1985.
Kunstverein Darmstadt (Hrsg.): Jürgen Möbius. Bilder 1985 - 1988. Kunsthalle Darmstadt, 26. Juni - 14. August 1988. Red. Dorit Marhenke, Lyrik Marcus Schiltenwolf, Düsseldorf 1988.
Gabriele Prusko (Hrsg.): Jürgen Möbius. Mit Texten von Philippe Büttner und Ralph Mieritz, Basel 1992.
Wolfgang Zemter (Hrsg.): Jürgen Möbius - Aktuelle Arbeiten. Märkisches Museum der Stadt Witten, Bönen 1999.
Wolfgang Zemter (Hrsg.): Jürgen Möbius. Flieger in meinem Zimmer und Beruhigte Zone, Bönen 2004.
Dama Gallery (Hrsg.): Jürgen Möbius, London 2014.