Adrian Ghenie's interest lies in the dangers and catastrophes caused by the ideologies of the 20th century, which the artist himself describes as the century of “humiliation”. The gloomy setting of his pictures and the deformed figures reveal the physical and psychological injuries caused by dictatorships and wars. In his current group of charcoal drawings, Ghenie moves his topic forward into the present and deals with the effects of digital media on people. Central in his pictorial practice of estrangement through montage and abstraction, the extensive oeuvre of drawings and collages is presented for the first time in the Dresden Kupferstich-Kabinett in its development and significance from its beginnings to the present day. With a detailed illustrated section and essays by Björn Egging, Jan-Markus Göttsch and Holger Liebs, the catalog provides the first published insight into the graphic work of this important artist.

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 He draws on personal memories, art historical references, film stills, and internet visuals.