Media Release Aarau, April 2018 Pictures for Everyone Prints and Multiples by Thomas Huber 1980 2018 4 May 11 November 2018 Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau The exhibition Pictures for All. Prints and Multiples by Thomas Huber 1980-2018 presents the distinct pictorial universe of the painter, author, and speaker Thomas Huber (b. 1955 in Zürich). Featuring more than 130 prints and multiples, this is the first survey of the artist s graphic work. The works on view were created over a period of almost forty years and thus render the key themes of his entire oeuvre accessible. In ten theme-based and carefully arranged exhibition spaces visitors can discover and get to know the prints and multiples of Thomas Huber. The artist draws on a wide range of printing techniques for his prints: from photogravure and lithography to silkscreen, copperplate, aquatint and offset printing. Thomas Huber s multiples include vases, ties, T-shirts, posters, and construction signs, among others. Against all fashions and devaluation processes the graphic arts were subject to in the mid-1980s and with the emergence of digital printing in the 1990s, the artist unwaveringly makes use of the possibilities of the classic forms of printing. Thomas Huber acquired the craftsmanship this requires at the Matthieu lithographic workshop in Dielsdorf and under Franz Fedier at the School of Applied Arts in Basel. The technical and stylistic range of Thomas Huber s prints and multiples becomes evident in the large number of exhibited works. The high painterly quality shows especially in the colourfulness of the lithographs, just as it does in his watercolours. As opposed to his in terms of painterliness rather austere oil paintings, the latter appear transparent and light.
Yet the prints of Thomas Huber vary greatly not just on a technical level, but thematically as well. The more than 130 Werke are grouped according to subject area and each exhibition space is devoted to a particular thematic group. Thomas Huber always works in series and presents his prints based on the following key themes: The Library, the urban utopia Huberville, The Bank, Family portraits, Vous-êtes ici, Interiors, and buildings. In addition, two films are screened in the exhibition: Mein Bruder im Wald (My Brother in the Woods, 1989) and Skizzenbücher 1982 2011. The former plays with the topos of the woodland walk, combining it with a critique of the art industry. The second film presents 27 sketchbooks which represent Thomas Huber s picture library. From them he develops his series of works, watercolours, preparatory drawings, paintings, and, not least, his prints and multiples. The Aargauer Kunsthaus has had a close relationship with Thomas Huber for quite some time now: in 2004 a comprehensive retrospective exhibition of Thomas Huber s work titled Kabinett der Bilder was shown in Aarau and the artist was also entrusted with the task of redesigning the museum s library in which, to this day, four of his large-scale oil paintings are presented along with the interior furnishings he developed together with his mother, Martha Huber-Villiger. Ever since the opening of the expanded Aargauer Kunsthaus in 2003 the library designed by Thomas Huber has been open to the public free of charge. The current presentation of Thomas Huber s graphic oeuvre at the Aargauer Kunsthaus in Aarau is, both for the artist and the museum, a perfect occasion to continue this long-standing relationship. The works in the exhibition are for the most part from a German private collection. Some loans from other private collections and the Musée d'art moderne et contemporain MAMCO in Geneva complement the show. Biography Thomas Huber (b. 1955 in Zürich) studied under Franz Fedier at the Basel School of Applied Arts from 1977 until 1978, attended the Royal College of Art in London in 1979 and the Düsseldorf academy of art from 1979 until 1983 (at the latter he was a Master Student of Fritz Schwegler). From 1992 until 1999 he held a professorship at the Braunschweig University of Art. From 2000 until 2002 Thomas Huber was President of the Deutscher Künstlerbund (Association of German Artists). Thomas Huber lives in Berlin. Selected Solo Exhibitions: Abyss, MONA, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (permanent exhibition); extase, Centre culturel suisse (CCS), Paris (2017); Am Horizont, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rennes (2016-17); vis-à-vis, The Armory Show, New York City (2015); Vous êtes ici. Thomas Huber est au Mamco, Musée d'art modern et contemporain MAMCO in Geneva (2012); travelling exhibition rauten traurig, MARTa in Herford, carré d art, musée d art contemporain de Nîmes und Kunsthalle
Tübingen (2008-09); retrospective Kabinett der Bilder, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam and Kaiser Wilhelm Museum and Haus Lange, Krefeld (2004); Glockenläuten / Laat der kokken luiden / Sonnez les martines, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Helmhaus Zürich, Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg (2000); Thomas Huber. Sept Lieux, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, installation of all previous works as a reconstruction of their first exhibition venues (1988 1989); Der Besuch im Atelier, Hall 13 of the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Centre, within the exhibition von hier aus, Düsseldorf (1984) Selected Awards: Meret Oppenheim Preis, Switzerland (2013); Prize of the Heitland Foundation, Celle (2005); Art Multiple Prize (today Cologne Fine Art & Antiques Prize), Cologne (1999); Prize for Young Swiss Art of the Zürich Art Society (1993); Manor Art Award Basel (1987); Prize of the Kiefer Hablitzer Foundation, Bern (1984) Selected Art in Architecture and Other Projects: Jurten, Inselspital Bern (2007); Ein öffentliches Bad für Münster, Skulptur Projekte Münster 87, Domplatz and Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Münster (1987); Pictet 1-4/4, Bank Pictet, Geneva (2006); Bibliothek im Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck, Remagen (2005); Halle 1-3, Zürcher Kantonalbank (2000) A detailed biography and extensive bibliography can be found at www.huberville.de Curators Beate Klompmaker, author who is preparing the catalogue raisonné of Thomas Huber and writing a monograph about the artist s life and work Thomas Schmutz, Curator of the Collection / Dep. Director Curatorial Assistant Bettina Mühlebach, Research Assistant Preview for the Media Thursday, 3 May 2018, 10.30 am Welcome address by Madeleine Schuppli, Director, introduction by Thomas Schmutz, Curator of the Collection / Dep. Director. Followed by a reception. Exhibition Opening Friday 4 May 2018, 6 pm 6.15 pm Welcome address by Madeleine Schuppli, Director, introduction by Thomas Schmutz, Curator of the Collection / Dep. Director Followed by a reception in the foyer 5-6 pm Preview for members of the Aargau Art Association 6 8 pm Children s Opening Meet at the studio downstairs at 6 pm (ages 5 to 13) Edition Thomas Huber has created a limited edition of 25 lithographs for the Aargauer Kunsthaus. Each print is a unique piece of art. More detailed information will be available starting May 2018 at shop.aargauerkunsthaus.ch
Artist s Talk Sunday 27.5. 4.00 pm Thomas Huber in conversation with Beate Klompmaker, curator. Moderated by Thomas Schmutz, Curator of the Collection / Dep. Director Admission + CHF 15., followed by a reception. Guided Tours Thursday, 18.30 pm 17.5. with Brigitte Haas, 31.5. with Annette Bürgi, 14.6. with Brigitte Haas, 28.6. with Annette Bürgi Sunday, 11 am 20.5. with Brigitte Haas, 17.6. with Annette Bürgi, 19.8. with Annette Bürgi, 26.8. with Brigitte Haas Sunday, 1 pm 13.5. with Annette Bürgi, 12.8. with Brigitte Haas, 16.9. with Brigitte Haas, 21.10. with Annette Bürgi, 4.11. with Brigitte Haas, 11.11. with Annette Bürgi Art Education Introduction for Educators Wednesday 9.5. 2.30 4.30 pm Open Studio Sunday 24.6. 11 am 4 pm The studio is open for creative minds young and old Art Hunt Saturday 26.5./2.6./9.6./16.6./23.6./25.8./1.9./8.9./15.9./22.9. 10 am 12.30 pm (ages 9 13) 1.30 3.30 pm (ages 5 8) Children are introduced to art Family Sunday Sunday 10.6., 11 am and 2 pm Interactive guided tour and workshop. For additional events for schools, families, children, and adolescents, as well as barrier-free events please refer to the separate flyer. Dates for Art Workshops (school classes) and Art Meets (adults) upon request: tel. +41 (0)62 835 23 31, email kunstvermittlung@ag.ch Aargauer Kunsthaus Opening Hours Tue Sun: 10 am 5 pm; Thu: 10 am 8 pm Holiday Opening Hours Open from 10 am to 5 pm: Ascension Day 10.5.2018, Whitsun 20.6.2018, Whitmonday 21.6.2018, Eve of Maienzug 5.7.2018, Maienzug 6.7.2018
Images for the Media Images are available for downloading on our website www.aargauerkunsthaus.ch> Media. Please consider the copyright. For additional information please contact Thomas Schmutz, Curator of the Collection / Dep. Director Aargauer Kunsthaus, tel. +41 (0)62 835 23 22, email: thomas.schmutz@ag.ch Bettina Mühlebach, Research Assistant, tel +41 (0)62 835 42 11, email: bettina.muehlebach@ag.ch Filomena Colecchia, Media / Communication, Aargauer Kunsthaus, tel. +41 (0)62 835 23 34, email: filomena.colecchia@ag.ch Social media Become a fan of the Aargauer Kunsthaus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.