Renggli David : Sunshine On Fruits

Galerie Peter Kilchmann presents an exhibition with new sculptures and paintings by David Renggli entitled “Sunshine on Fruits”. At the same time there will be a selection of new works by Tinus Vermeersch in the Project Space.

“Sunshine on Fruits” is David Renggli’s second solo exhibition in the gallery. By making references not only to art history, Modernism, classical sculpture and industrial design; but also to folk art and everyday life, Renggli once again succeeded to create exciting sculptures and paintings. A series of small and medium format bronze sculptures stands out. They were shaped after piles of straw and have attachments of a head, arm, or leg. Renggli shapes these sculptures himself and then gives them a wax bath. After drying, the straw figure is covered with a stable wax layer that is then used as negative and the sculpture can be cast in bronze. During the casting process, the straw burns, making the sculpture a unique piece. Also on view are new paintings from the ongoing series “Floorplan Desire Paintings” in different formats. Painted in various colors, on wood in the background as well as on a coir mesh, the paintings make allusions to concrete art and challenge the tradition of abstract art by intermingling with the aesthetics of decorative interior design. When viewing the work one is confronted with an unusual and irritating moment which recalls op art, without ever being absurd but with an ironic note. A further body of work on view is a group of new sculptures entitled “Good Vibe Gong”. It consists of round steel plates that hang at a distance from the wall. The steel plates were worked with a hammer in such a way to remind visually and haptically large gongs that actually produce sound. The gong sculptures hint to some of Renggli’s earlier works that referenced musical instruments or were actually able to create sound, such as “Stairway to Heaven” from 2010 or “Compositions” from 2013.