Adrian Ghenie - Shadow Paintings

A vertical rectangular poster against a white background. The image is heavily blurred, showing only a dark, abstract composition of indistinct shapes and muted colors.

A thick, black hardcover book titled GHENIE in white capital letters on the spine, shown at an angle against a solid white background. The cover features a dark, blurry, abstract painting.

An open art book with black pages displaying a two-page spread. The left page shows a black-and-white painting of a man in a suit beside a skeletal figure. The right page features a colorful, abstract painting of two figures embracing in a chaotic scene. Below, a fold-out section shows many small thumbnail images.

An open art book showing a two-page spread with black backgrounds. On the left page is a black-and-white expressionist drawing of a gaunt figure. On the right is a colorful, abstract painting of a reddish figure with a complex headdress standing next to a wheeled office chair. A strip of smaller thumbnail images runs along the bottom of the pages.

A studio photograph of an open art book displaying a large, two-page expressionist painting. The artwork depicts a distorted, reclining figure with a grey, abstract head against a vibrant turquoise and dark, chaotic background. Below the main image, a strip shows smaller preparatory sketches and the title RESURRECTION 1.

An open art book is displayed against a white background. The two-page spread is black with large, white, sans-serif text that reads, Adrian Ghenie The Self-Portrait as a Dystopian Image of an Era by Klaus Albrecht Schröder. A series of small, grayscale figure sketches runs along the bottom of the pages.

A dark, heavily blurred image on a black vertical rectangle, resembling a poster. The out-of-focus image contains indistinct shapes in muted, dark tones. At the bottom, white text reads, Based on an original concept by C.A.B. The object is set against a white background, casting a soft shadow.

A dense collage of paintings and sketches by artist Adrian Ghenie, from his Shadow Paintings series. The image is a grid of numerous artworks, showcasing a mix of monochrome drawings and colorful, abstract paintings of distorted human figures. The layout resembles a contact sheet from an art catalog, with titles and page numbers scattered throughout.

A page from an art catalog for artist Adrian Ghenie. At the top, two paintings are displayed. On the left is a grayscale painting of a man in a suit touching the halo of a gaunt, floating figure. On the right is a colorful, abstract expressionist painting of two contorted figures in a chaotic embrace. Below is a thumbnail gallery of other works from the series titled Shadow Paintings.

A chaotic, abstract diptych painting by Adrian Ghenie. On the left, fleshy, distorted human legs and feet are painted with thick, visceral strokes against a dark, scratched background. On the right, a ghostly, skeletal figure in white and blue holds up a laptop, supported by a tangle of pink tubes. The image is a digital layout from the Shadow Paintings series.

A title screen from a digital art book or gallery presentation, featuring the text MALE NUDE KNEELING, WITH RAISED HANDS 2 in large white letters. The background is a blurred image of artwork. At the bottom of the screen, there is a filmstrip of thumbnail images showing various surreal and figurative sketches.

A digital spread from an art book comparing two expressionist works. On the left, a black-and-white Egon Schiele drawing of a gaunt, anguished figure. On the right, a colorful contemporary painting of a distorted, reddish humanoid figure with antlers standing next to an office chair. A filmstrip of related thumbnail images runs along the bottom.

A black and white, two-panel charcoal drawing in an abstract, expressionistic style. The left panel shows a fragmented, skeletal figure with an outstretched hand, while the right panel depicts an abstract chair-like structure. The artwork is displayed in a digital gallery view, with the title MELANCHOLIA 1 visible below.

An art book spread showing two expressionist paintings side-by-side. The left painting is a dark, black and white depiction of two figures lying in separate, stacked boxes. The right painting is a full-color version of the same scene, rendering the contorted figures in fleshy tones against a bright blue and grey background. Below are thumbnail images from the book.

An abstract diptych painting with dynamic, expressive brushwork. The left panel features organic, rounded forms in fleshy tones of beige, brown, and pink. The right panel is more geometric, with angular shapes in a cooler palette of grey, white, and light blue. A long strip of smaller thumbnail images and sketches runs along the bottom of the entire composition.

A screenshot of a digital art catalog displaying a two-page spread. The left page shows a black-and-white expressionist drawing of a gaunt, two-headed nude figure against a dark background. The right page features a colorful, surreal painting of a distorted, fleshy figure kneeling while taking a selfie with a smartphone. A filmstrip of smaller thumbnail images is visible at the bottom.

An abstract, sketchy charcoal drawing in black and white showing two overlapping, distorted figures. The central figure has a large, bone-shaped object on its head and holds a hand to its face. A drawing of a bone is on the right. At the bottom, a strip of thumbnail images includes the text THE SELF-SEERS I.

An abstract diptych painting titled Delirium. The left panel shows distorted, fleshy forms in orange and beige against a scratched black background. The right panel features chaotic, gestural brushstrokes in shades of blue, teal, and white, creating abstract shapes that resemble hands. A gallery of smaller thumbnail images is visible along the bottom.

A two-page spread from a book with a black background and large, white sans-serif text that reads, ADRIAN GHENIE THE SELF-PORTRAIT AS A DYSTOPIAN IMAGE OF AN ERA BY KLAUS ALBRECHT SCHRÖDER. A strip along the bottom displays a series of small, black-and-white figurative sketches.

A two-page book spread, pages 238 and 239, with white text on a black background. The spread features an interview between Klaus Speidel and Adrian Ghenie under the heading Craft Instincts and the Shitty Paintings We Have Behind Us. The text is arranged in columns above a row of small images of artworks along the bottom.

Adrian Ghenie - Shadow Paintings

€ 58.00

VAT included. Shipping costs will be calculated at checkout

Edited by: Klaus Albrecht Schröder, Adrian Ciprian Barsan

Graphic Design: Bureau Borsche

Artist: Egon Schiele, Adrian Ghenie

Texts by: Klaus Albrecht Schröder, Adrian Ciprian Barsan, Elisabeth Dutz, Klaus-Peter Speidel

English

December 2024, 324 Pages, 200 Photos

Hardcover

240mm x 341mm

ISBN: 978-3-7757-5862-8

HATJE CANTZ VERLAG
Mommsenstr. 27
10629 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: contact@hatjecantz.de

According to Article 9(7) of the GPSR Regulation, no additional security information is required for books without supplements or special functions.

Press download

Lost works, brought back to life

The ALBERTINA honors Adrian Ghenie with a revolutionary exhibition based on the idea and concept by Ciprian Adrian Barsan. Adrian Ghenie brings Schiele's lost works - known only through black-and-white photographs - back to life. About a quarter of Schiele's paintings remain missing or were destroyed. These lost images, which address themes such as death, sexuality, and melancholy, exist only as shadowy photographs. The project 'Egon Schiele Shadow Paintings' takes viewers on a metaphysical journey through decay and rebirth. Ghenie transforms these shadow images into vivid manifestations of the color spectrum, blurring the lines between reality and abstraction.

"Schiele was, of course, part of my mental archive. I have two things in common with Schiele. Not in terms of style, but in terms of attitude. As soon as you leave behind the traditional constraints of anatomy, the way you deform the human form can become a portrait of your character or inner psyche on a deeper level." - Adrian Ghenie

Adrian Ghenie (*1977 in Baia Mare, Romania), is one of the most celebrated painters of his generation. His work is considered "posthumously born" in the Nietzschean sense, blending past influences with contemporary themes. Ghenie is known for merging personal, political, and art historical themes, combining abstract and figurative elements, and exploring the possibilities of his medium. He draws on personal memories, art historical references, film stills, and internet visuals.

Egon Schiele (1890-1918) showed exceptional artistic talent at an early age. He entered the Vienna Academy in 1906, but soon left due to conflicts and founded the Neukunstgruppe. Known for his expressive works, Schiele achieved significant fame in 1918, but died of the Spanish flu at the age of 28.

EXHIBITION
ALBERTINA, Vienna
October 11, 2024-March 2, 2025