Werner von Mutzenbecher

Curated by Katharina Dunst

The fact that Werner von Mutzenbecher decided at the age of twenty to give up his studies in German studies and philosophy in favor of art may have to do with the coherence of the medium of the image for his interest and motivation. The search for knowledge and the encircling of a hunch also takes place in science, but if one is on the trail of the essence of the hunch itself, one probably finds the most suitable means in art. Its open character stands in opposition to knowledge and yet is closely linked to it; it can be ambiguously precise and articulate both certainty and ignorance. In his long career, Werner von Mutzenbecher has surrounded suspicions, built castles around something hidden from view and asked questions. In his films, we sometimes look over his shoulders and look with him at the world or at looking and searching itself. His simple palette and seemingly unambiguous forms convey a sense of calm, even though the first glance can quickly become shaky. From March 2 to April 28, 2018, works from the wealth of Werner von Mutzenbecher's oeuvre will be on display at Kunstraum Riehen.