Wolfgang Sautermeister
nachtgelichtet – Zeichnung
14/07 – 15/09/2024

Rudolf-Scharpf-Galerie

Hemshofstraße 54
67063 Ludwigshafen

The Wilhelm-Hack-Museum in Ludwigshafen presents a solo exhibition by Mannheim artist Wolfgang Sautermeister from July 14 to September 15, 2024, focusing on the drawing work of this artist, who is particularly known for his performances.

The exhibition showcases works from the past 30 years, highlighting Sautermeister’s multifaceted engagement with the medium: small and large formats, created using various techniques on paper, cardboard, and wood, both individually and in series. This includes sketches, painterly works, concrete and figurative pieces, collages, associative image assemblages, artist books, and site-specific wall drawings.

For Sautermeister, drawing has always been a central artistic expression. His works are characterized by an experimental, intuitive approach, with recurring themes such as cinematic references, landscape, and manifestations of the spiritual shaping his autobiographically influenced work. Drawing serves as a means of recording personal thoughts, often in conjunction with text or word fragments, seeking a mystical poetry. It opens up spaces for thought and creates unexpected relationships and connections. The artist finds his inspiration in magazines, album covers, or old photographs, as well as in the observation of everyday objects and events. Some references arise from Sautermeister’s performative work, such as in the ongoing series Performative Gestures, which reflects his engagement with the body, or through the use of materials like tape, which he frequently employs in his performances.

Accompanying the exhibition is a publication that provides a comprehensive overview of this central aspect of his artistic work, featuring over 120 color images of works created between 1994 and 2024. In addition to a foreword by René Zechlin, Director of the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, and an introduction by curator Dr. Astrid Ihle, an extensive text by art historian Dr. Lida von Mengden places Sautermeister’s drawing oeuvre in the context of his artistic practice and contemporary drawing. In addition to documenting his drawing work, the publication also offers insight into Sautermeister’s performative practice since the 1990s, featuring numerous documentary photographs.

Curator: Dr. Astrid Ihle.

The exhibition is supported by BASF, the Karin & Carl-Heinrich Esser Foundation, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Ministry for Family, Women, Culture, and Integration, and the Culture Office of the City of Mannheim.