Markus Lüpertz - Zodiac Signs (2018)

Zodiac Signs (2018)

With the sculpture and graphic series from 2018, Markus Lüpertz dedicates himself to the twelve signs of the zodiac with a unique mixture of figuration and abstraction. Astrology has always been searching for a supernatural meaning of human life and has assigned a mythological level to scientific findings about the constellations. Lüpertz interprets the prophecies of the twelve signs of the zodiac in the form of a hand-painted bronze sculpture and a woodcut graphic.

To this day, looking up at the starry sky inevitably provokes a question of faith and, through confrontation with the infinite vastness, shows people their individual inability to exert influence. Lüpertz addresses this in the spirit of the philosopher Immanuel Kant, who formulated in his "Critique of Judgement" in 1790 that at this point, humans as moral and spiritual beings confront the incomprehensible from their inner greatness and enjoy the sublime.

A unique production of Lüpertz's contemporary series was realized on the cloudless night of July 27th to 28th, 2018 at Olbrück Castle. In this environment full of magic and poetry and the nighttime backdrop of the medieval castle ruins, in the middle of the Eastern Eifel region of Rhineland-Palatinate, the longest total lunar eclipse of the century and our neighboring planet Mars could be admired in unusual proximity - a constellation that will not be observed again for another 102,000 years.

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About Markus Lüpertz

Markus Lüpertz, born in 1941 in Reichenberg, now Liberec in the Czech Republic, is one of the most important German artists of our time. He is known for his versatile artistic expression and his experimental approach to painting, sculpture and printmaking. Lüpertz's work is characterized by a mixture of abstraction and figurative representation, often incorporating mythological, historical and literary motifs. His painting is characterized by powerful brushstrokes, vibrant colors and an expressive design that is often imbued with profound symbolism. In addition to his painting, Lüpertz has also created important sculptures, often featuring monumental forms and a rough materiality. As one of the leading representatives of the so-called "New Wild" movement in the 1980s, Lüpertz has made a significant contribution to the development of the contemporary German art scene. Despite his international fame, Lüpertz has also been active as a professor and teacher and has inspired and promoted numerous young artists. His versatile work and his influence on the art world make Markus Lüpertz an important figure in contemporary art.