MINIMAL SHIFT

This exhibition project entitled Minimal Shift brings together a selection from the rich international collection of Erste Group in Vienna, which is presenting the artistic trends of the 1970s to the 1990s in a Euro-American context as well as 18 world-known key representatives (C. André, Sol Le Witt, On Kawara, R. Long, I. Knoebel and others). The exhibition concentrates mainly on the geometric and minimal art positions, the conceptual and post-conceptual approaches of this period. These are trends that are based on an ideological simplification, an analytical and rational approach with a preference for elementary spaces, constructions and fixed and tangible forms. The exhibition therefore displays a definition of a new creative language that represents a radical deviation from the classical aesthetics of a painting or sculpture. In the Koppel villa it is possible to see a series of primary objects in the form of a simple composition of wooden beams (Carl André, Jiří Kovanda), a derivation of a cube (Sol Le Witt), chipboard or metal verticals (Heimo Zobernig, Meuser) and an aluminium corner construction (Reiner Ruthenbeck). In addition there will be a presentation of black-and-white geometric compositions (Helmut Federle, Julije Knifer), monochrome canvases (Alan Charlton) and conceptual texts and inscriptions (On Kawara, Heinz Gappmayr). In this arrangement of classical names of modern art, there are also concepts made by two Slovak artists, the founders of conceptual art in this country – Stano Filko and Július Koller with their installations of “white space” and “white objects”. In the Synagogue building we can find “horizontal” sculptures, and works and constellations placed directly on the ground. There are a land art spiral constructed from a collection of boughs (Richard Long), a marble stone with milk (Wolfgang Laib), or the minimalist surfaces of recumbent forms (David Rabinowitsch, Adrian Schiess).

The Erste Bank collection in Vienna began to be assembled in 1988 and after 2004 in a new approach, Erste Group (with the participation of Slovenská sporiteľňa) under the title Kontakt has been concentrating on modern and contemporary art after 1960 in a Central European context. The exhibition is a continuation in the gallery-based strategy of presenting leading private and public collections in GJK (IN-FORMATION, Frac du Grand Est 2005; Supernova, British Council 2006; Farby Lucky, Wannieck Gallery Brno 2008 etc.).

MINIMAL SHIFT Artwork from the ERSTE GROUP collection

Presented artists: Carl André, Helmut Federle, Stano Filko, Heinz Gappmayr, Alan Charlton, On Kawara, Julije Knifer, Imi Knoebel, Július Koller, Jiří Kovanda, Wolfgang Laib, Sol LeWitt, Richard Long, Meuser, David Rabinowitch, Reiner Ruthenbeck, Adrian Schiess, Heimo Zobernig

Date of exhibition: 1 April – 10 May 2009 To be held at: Koppel villa, Jan Koniarek Gallery, Zelený kríček 3, Trnava, Slovakia Synagogue – Centre for Contemporary Art, Halenárska 2, Trnava, Slovakia Curators of exhibition: Walter Seidl, Vladimír Beskid Opening date: 1 April (Wednesday) 2009 at 6.00 pm at the Koppel villa GJK

MINIMAL SHIFT
Artwork from the ERSTE GROUP collection
Kuratoren: Walter Seidl, Vladimir Beskid

Künstler: Carl Andre, Helmut Federle, Stano Filko, Heinz Gappmayr, Alan Charlton, On Kawara, Julije Knifer, Imi Knoebel, Julius Koller, Jiri Kovanda, Wolfgang Laib, Sol Le Witt, Richard Long, Meuser , David Rabinowitch, Reiner Ruthenbeck, Adrian Schiess, Heimo Zobernig