Roman Signer : Reisebilder zwischen Leben und Tod

Opening 25 May 25 at 2 pm

The futility of all human endeavours is expressed strikingly in the work of Roman Signer (1938). Since 1975, this Swiss artist has been creating sculptures, installations, photo sequences and short Super 8 films, in which he engages with all sorts of objects – a chair or kayak, etc. – which he drops, sinks or explodes with great precision. During these counter-productive actions (he refers to them as Kurzzeitskulptur), Signer adopts a solemn attitude and looks very serious. This is why he is known in the USA as the 'Buster Keaton of art'. In the recent videos and digital films of this anarchist pur sang, we are still being misled, but now destruction as the creative act and cinematic climax has made way for pure coincidence and suggestion.

In Reisebilder zwischen Leben und Tod, Signer juxtaposes two striking, yet familiar images. They are photos of roadside monuments and private stalls made by the artist on his many journeys, this time to the Ukraine. This book of photos accompanies the exhibition Roman Signer: Reisebilder zwischen Leben und Tod, in which Signer's existential themes are illustrated through photos, Super 8 films, sculptures, installations and drawings from the collection of the Bonnefantenmuseum.

Roman Signer
Reisebilder zwischen Leben und Tod