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Konrad Klapheck

KONRAD KLAPHECK

Behind the Curtain Galerie Lelong 6 April–13 May 2017 13 Rue de Téhéran, Paris
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Press Release

Konrad Klapheck, born in Düsseldorf in 1935, has chosen to call this new exhibition at Galerie Lelong “Derrière le rideau” (Behind the Curtain). “There are many types of curtain, and a distinction should be made between the curtain that closes, pulled by a Mozartian viscount who wants to hide the liberties that he is taking with the attractive chambermaid, and the curtain that opens onto a theatre stage or a musical,” the artist explains. Indeed, the title is very apt given that in the recent works that form this collection he shows us artists, musicians and contortionists performing with the curtains open, and couples who, with the curtains closed, demonstrate a certain form of intimacy. But Klapheck does not stop at this obvious duality which implies that the open curtain represents the public sphere and the closed curtain the private world. He also paints nudes who expose themselves in front of the curtains, during a life drawing class, for example, or a musician observing the public from behind the curtain, just before going on stage.

For this exhibition, Klapheck also presents some new “machines”, these strange and familiar works that he has been painting since the mid-1950s. In these paintings, we find the same meticulous rigour, the same surprising and disconcerting strangeness as in his 20th Century works, proof that he had not lowered the curtain on them. Coming soon: Repères n°168 with texts by Kay Heymer and Konrad Klapheck.

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About the Artist

Konrad Klapheck was born in 1935 in Düsseldorf, Germany. He lives and works in Düsseldorf.

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About the Gallery
Galerie Lelong is located in Paris and New York. It was founded by Jacques Dupin, Daniel Lelong and Jean Frémon.

The Paris gallery has been exhibiting recent works from artists of international standing since 1981. The 1980s were notable for artists who went on to become household names, including Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida, Paul Rebeyrolle, Pierre Alechinsky, but also for the next generation of artists: Konrad Klapheck, Jan Dibbets, Donald Judd, Robert Ryman, Richard Serra, Jannis Kounellis, Arnulf Rainer, Nicola De Maria and Jan Voss.

In the 1990s, the gallery hosted artists who represented major movements in contemporary art: Sean Scully, Günther Förg, Andy Goldsworthy, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Antonio Saura. The gallery also increased international recognition of the work of Ana Mendieta.

Since the turn of the century, Galerie Lelong has accentuated the geographical and expressive diversity of its artists: from sculpture and objects by Jaume Plensa, David Nash, Wolfgang Laib, Kiki Smith, Rebecca Horn, Barry Flanagan to installations by Barthélémy Toguo and Lin Tianmiao, without forgetting painting, namely David Hockney, Robert Motherwell, Kate Shepherd, Nalini Malani, Nancy Spero, Juan Uslé, Leon Kossoff.

Galerie Lelong has a large publishing department which produces and distributes engravings, lithographs, digital prints and multiple objects, and collates these works in catalogues raisonnés.

It produces monumental sculptures to order for public spaces and private clients.

The gallery is present at the leading international contemporary art fairs (Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Basel Hong Kong, Fiac Paris, Frieze London, Frieze New York, Arco Madrid, Art Brussels, Expo Chicago...).

The directors of the gallery are Jean Frémon, Daniel Lelong and Patrice Cotensin in Paris and Mary Sabbatino in New York.
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Address
13 rue de Téhéran
Paris
France
Opening Hours
Tues - Fri, 10.30am - 6pm
Sat, 2pm - 6.30pm
(1)
Paris 13 rue de Téhéran
Galerie Lelong contemporary art gallery in 13 Rue de Teheran Paris France
Galerie Lelong
13 rue de Téhéran, Paris, France
+33 145 631 319
http://www.galerie-lelong.com

Opening hours
Tues - Fri, 10.30am - 6pm
Sat, 2pm - 6.30pm
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