New monumental drawings. Theme of the display is a cycle portraying the "Hades" episode in James Joyce's "Ulysses", a work with which the artist has been intensely preoccupied for some time. This series marks a radical move towards large-scale format. Curated by Michael Semff.
Ulysses by James Joyce
Curated by Michael Semff
From 27th February to 11th March 2007 the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung
will present new monumental drawings by Erwin Pfrang in the glass cabinet
corridor of the Pinakothek der Moderne. Theme of the display is a cycle
portraying the »Hades« episode in James Joyce’s »Ulysses«, a work with which
the artist has been intensely preoccupied for some time.
The artist produced the works last summer in his studio in Catania/Sicily
using a novel technique (ink on goat skin). They mark a radical move towards
large-scale format. Pfrang’s trademark, in which normally the micro-cosmos
of graphic art dominates, acquires here in this peculiar materiality a
surprisingly expressive quality and almost pictorial insistence. The
Staatliche Graphische Sammlung has been following Pfrang’s artwork since the
early 1980’s – work that has gained recognition within the world of
contemporary drawing for its unmistakable style. The first cycle devoted to
Joyce was shown in 1998 in our exhibition »Erwin Pfrang – Works on Paper« in
the Neue Pinakothek. Accompanying the current presentation of works, which
come from the collection of H. R. H. Duke Franz of Bavaria and were shown by
David Nolan in New York in the autumn of 2006, is a catalogue (68 pages,
price 15 Euro). It continues the theme of our 1998 publication. At the press
preview Harald Beck, the distinguished interpreter and translator of Joyce’s
works, will give an introduction.
Press Conference: 27.02.2007, h.11
Pinakothek der Moderne
Barer Str. 29 - Munich