Three. The Triptych In Modern Art
07 Feb - 14 Jun 2009
THREE. THE TRIPTYCH IN MODERN ART
7 February - 14 June 2009
The triptych as an altarpiece or devotional image played a pivotal role in Western art since the Middle Ages. This religiously motivated artistic tradition came to a halt with Rubens and was first readopted at the close of the 19th century, producing radically new images and focusing on novel, drastic subject matter. Taking up the Christian motif of suffering, many significant artists in modern times make existential statements on humanity. Otto Dix, Max Beckmann or Markus Lüpertz conceive modern myths and express political viewpoints. Others, such as Jannis Kounellis, Dieter Roth or Ellsworth Kelly, ennoble materials, color and form by means of the triptych. The special exhibition »Three. The Triptych in Modern Art« exemplarily shows the transformation of this type of image, its impact and current relevance, and investigates also the demarcation between it and the image series or sequence.
7 February - 14 June 2009
The triptych as an altarpiece or devotional image played a pivotal role in Western art since the Middle Ages. This religiously motivated artistic tradition came to a halt with Rubens and was first readopted at the close of the 19th century, producing radically new images and focusing on novel, drastic subject matter. Taking up the Christian motif of suffering, many significant artists in modern times make existential statements on humanity. Otto Dix, Max Beckmann or Markus Lüpertz conceive modern myths and express political viewpoints. Others, such as Jannis Kounellis, Dieter Roth or Ellsworth Kelly, ennoble materials, color and form by means of the triptych. The special exhibition »Three. The Triptych in Modern Art« exemplarily shows the transformation of this type of image, its impact and current relevance, and investigates also the demarcation between it and the image series or sequence.