Films
Rita Ackermann: New Paintings
The opposing impulses of creation and destruction mark the touchstone of the Hungarian-born, New York-based artist Rita Ackermann’s practice, which continues to evolve and manifest itself in the shift from representation to abstraction. Ackermann’s compositions occupy a space in this shift, where human forms simultaneously disappear and re-emerge. In this series of new paintings, which include ‘Sister’ and ‘Mama’ in their titles, Ackermann traces movement of the body and expands her expressive use of colour and pencil marks.
‘Drawings are like veins; blood vessels leading to the heart…I do not know if life is forever, but I know I make paintings to live.’
Rita Ackermann, Mama 3, 2019 © Rita Ackermann. Photo: Genevieve Hanson
Rita Ackermann in her Brooklyn studio, 2019. Photo: Oresti Tsonopoulos
‘Through the lines there is a flow, fast and slow, always with a different speed. Without mastering humility, it is not possible for me to obtain the vertical mobility needed to illuminate new boundaries in painting. And what I hope for my paintings is that they think themselves into existence.’
Rita Ackermann, Sisters 2, 2019 © Rita Ackermann. Photo: Genevieve Hanson
Studio detail, 2019 © Rita Ackermann. Photo: Oresti Tsonopoulos
‘Automatical drawings of the Dada games gave the line to the blind. The lines of the unconsciousness which lead to the unknown. Over and over re-addressing the line to blindly find the contour.’
Rita Ackermann in her studio, 2019 © Rita Ackermann. Photo: Oresti Tsonopoulos
Studio detail, 2019 © Rita Ackermann. Photo: Oresti Tsonopoulos
Hauser & Wirth’s presentation at Art Cologne (11 – 14 April 2019) will be dedicated to Rita Ackermann, with a selection of new paintings from her Mama, Sister and Chalkboard series.