Pierre Grumbacher

The exhibition "Joie de Vivre" comprises works created mainly in 2016 and 2017. The sculptures, paintings, and prints on display are inspired by interactions with people. They depict joie de vivre, tenderness, movement, dance, and pleasure.

Movement and dance as expressions of joie de vivre are the themes of the works in the front room of the exhibition. The "Dance Performance" pictures show dancers performing on stage in front of an audience. Viewers join the audience, so to speak, and hear the music in their inner ear. The wire sculptures are each created from a single piece of wire. The artist aims to bring the lightness of the sketch into a spatial structure, using the play of light and shadow to enhance the dynamics of the movement. Sculptures of individual dancers reminiscent of the beach and carnival, and ink drawings complete the ensemble.

"Dialogue and togetherness" is the predominant theme of the works in the rear room of the exhibition. One group of works depicts (loving) couples in dialogue or in contemplative togetherness. Both groups of pictures, "Loving Couple" and "Loving Couple on a Red Bench," are a mixture of painting and print. This makes the pictures similar, yet unique. In this way, the artist wants to encourage the viewer to consider what makes a relationship special. The group of works entitled "Spirit in a Bottle" comprises wire sculptures that offer themselves to the viewer as conversation partners or – in interaction with light and shadow – tell a story themselves.