Sigmar PolkeDie Vervielfältigung des Humors

Sigmar Polke’s oeuvre numbers around 200 editions from 1963 to 2009, and the Ciesielski Collection is the only one in the world to bring them together in full. The book accompanying the exhibition of this collection and its juxtaposition with works from the Sammlung Lambrecht-Schadeberg at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen is intended above all to make possible an intensive examination of individual, outstanding editions by the eleventh winner of the Rubens Prize of the City of Siegen (2007) – undertaken by a younger generation of writers, but also by intimate connoisseurs and companions. In doing so, the authors take on the exciting venture of formulating new approaches to the work of this ambiguous, ironic grand master.
With his sheets, portfolios, books, photographs and objects, Sigmar Polke opened up entirely new paths for the art of the twentieth century through surprising subjects and experimental techniques. The editions also drew on his painting, in order on the one hand to lead back into it, but on the other to develop wholly distinct medial aspects – one would almost have to say: a life of their own. What is special about Sigmar Polke’s editions, of course, is that in them his camouflage-like principle of blurring is fully realised in terms of content as well. Here he made reportage-like and socially critical photographs and placed them on an equal footing beside his colourful, serial prints with everyday motifs, beside the mixture of styles on simple decorative fabrics that has been described as „German Pop“. His media- and culture-critical stance emerged in his multiples above all when he worked with historical engravings or optical apparatus, or even simulated magical procedures.

Exhibition:
Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen, 16/3–23/6/2013
les Abattoirs, Toulouse, 31/1–4/5/2013