“It’s Stunning When the Spirits Arrive” by Swiss artist Tobias Spichtig (b. 1982) is his first solo exhibition in Asia. The exhibition is curated by Fabian Schoeneich, director and curator of CCA Berlin—Heart for Up to date Arts. It options completely new work, specializing in Spichtig’s portray observe and providing a rigorously curated collection of each figurative and summary work. Spichtig, initially from Lucerne, Switzerland, is presently based mostly in Berlin however is transitioning to Paris. His observe encompasses a variety of media, with sculpture and portray forming the core of his oeuvre. When contemplating an exhibition, Spichtig is all the time equally involved with the structure of the house. The viewer’s gaze, in addition to the gaze of the work towards the spectator, is all the time taken into consideration. Based mostly on this dynamic, the artist creates areas stuffed with sofas or fridges, making it nearly inconceivable to take care of any distance between the viewer and the work. He has constructed giant stage-like buildings, as he did at Kunsthalle Basel, the place the viewer turns into the “object” seen by the work. Alternatively, he may introduce a carpet, as at TAO ART, to accentuate the house and foster a extra intimate engagement with the work.

In “It’s Stunning When the Spirits Arrive” at TAO ART, Spichtig’s work offers an outline of his motifs and pursuits from latest years. Viewers will encounter figurative work of Giacometti-like figures standing intently collectively. These figures are harking back to his sculptural work, during which he makes use of fabric soaked in epoxy to kind skinny silhouettes of ghost-like figures, seen not solely in exhibitions but additionally in each flagship retailer of Balenciaga worldwide. The model commissioned the artist a couple of years in the past to create unique sculptures which have since haunted their areas. Ottolinger, one other Berlin vogue model, additionally discovered inspiration within the artist’s work and tailored his canvases for a complete assortment, unveiled in Paris final yr.

Nonetheless, the main focus of the present at TAO is completely on portray, persevering with with figuration in a portrait of an artist making ready to go away his dressing room and go onstage. The work options Spichtig’s well-known slender face, drawn by time, alien-like, framed by glowing lights harking back to well-known pictures of dressing rooms in Broadway theaters. That is adopted by two giant work: considered one of a seated determine and one other of a reclining determine on an summary background of  numerous colours.

It’s unclear the place these figures are positioned, maybe someplace within the ether. On the similar time, their pose and posture recall classical work. Amedeo Modigliani’s Reclining Nude involves thoughts, or the pose of the central determine in Claude Monet’s Lunch on the Grass. Nonetheless, they may evoke completely totally different references. Spichtig doesn’t quote previous masters; relatively, he works by a canon and defines his personal language. The place we really feel a way of recognition, we lose the reference once more within the subsequent second.

Spichtig’s work all start with abstraction earlier than he decides whether or not to enter right into a figurative mode. Some stay summary, whereas others evolve into totally realized figurative works. The work are densely and richly utilized; the paint leaves its traces, and there’s no try to hide them.

On the middle of TAO ART is a key set of 4 works that provide perception into Spichtig’s work. The 2 figurative items are accompanied by an summary work that, at occasions, loses its cryptic parts to disclose spirals or flowers from a distant world. Moreover, there may be an nearly photorealistic portray of sun shades set in opposition to a darkish summary background, a logical continuation of his earlier works that includes printed sun shades on monochrome painted surfaces. Two works, which appear to stare upon one another, conclude the exhibition within the adjoining room—an unique overview of portray by the artist Tobias Spichtig.

curated by
Fabian Schoeneich

at TAO ART, Taipei City
till November 30, 2024