Parallel Worlds

David Thorpe, born 1972 in London, has aroused international attention in recent years through work that is technically, and in equal measure, intellectually discerning. His work revolves around concepts of freedom and independence, utopian theories and their failure. The references are widespread, ranging from visual art in European Romanticism and American pioneer painting, the Arts and Crafts movement to the visions of Modernism, including the utopian dreams of cults, religious zealots and the Lebensreform movement from the 16th century to the present. This book is being released on the occasion of David Thorpe’s exhibition in the Museum Kurhaus Kleve, his first solo presentation in a German museum. The show offers an overview of his work from 1999 to 2007 and includes his newest pieces, two expansive installations, one of which was created especially for the Museum Kurhaus Kleve. Within these the central theme of Thorpe’s art–the creation of parallel worlds with their own laws–takes shape in a particularly striking way.

Exhibition:
Museum Kurhaus Kleve, 27/1–12/5/2008