September 7, 2013 – January 19, 2014

Claude Viallat (*1936 in Nîmes) is one of the fundamental representatives of the French art movement Supports-Surfaces. Since the 1960s he has been putting not only topics and motives, but also traditional techniques and elements of a picture to the test. By turning down the stretcher frame, he awards the canvas an unique substantial quality, that emerges as the essential element of the work. At the same time, he has started reducing his pictorial vocabulary by working exclusively with a template as the basic shape. In this way, base and painting entered with equal weight into dialogue.

Viallat kept discovering diverse substances and declared them as the main challenge for his painting: bed covers, table cloths, jute bags, dresses, curtains, sunshades, etc. Generally used pieces, found by the artist himself or given, used clothing, rags, patches, which have visually and noticeably been used for everyday situations and purposes.

Even though Claude Viallats works are displayed not only in France and but also in many major international museum collections and exhibitions worldwide, he has rarely been seen in single exhibitions in the German area.The Foundation of Situation Kunst (Stiftung Situation Kunst) and the artist created an exhibition showing the historical devevlopment with essential work pieces – one major topic however will focus on new material (since the 1990s).

A catalogue accompanies the exhibition.