We are delighted to present David Renggli's new solo exhibition "Sincerely yours" at Tobias Mueller Modern Art from 31 May - 14 September 2024.
David Renggli is a Swiss artist (b. 1974) who lives and works in Zurich. He attended the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich and the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. He explores his creations in paintings, sculptures, collages and installations and does not limit himself to a specific medium. They are often characterized by poetic, humorous and critical components. Renggli's art operates against the loss of meaning of the immediate reality surrounding us in everyday life and against a dulling of perception in today's excessively mediatized world. His work is characterized by a blend of abstraction and figuration, exploring deep emotional themes through vibrant colors and dynamic forms.
In 2015, Renggli developed his signature technique with the Desire Paintings, an ongoing series of works. The artist first paints a background wood panel with abstract forms in various colors, then juxtaposes it with a jute net in the front, on which he paints different colorful shapes. The classical attitude of the viewer with regard to painting is here put to the test, inasmuch as the perception of these works acquires a processual dimension: the ascertained pictorial relationships shift with each movement of the individual viewer. The ‘perfect’ point of view in front of one of the Desire Paintings sometimes diverges from the position which one is accustomed to occupy vis-à-vis ‘classic’ paintings. For instance, diagonally from the side the elements conjoin in the picture in such a way that a form and its shadow-shape come to convey a coherent covering. Utilizing a vivid palette, Renggli conveys the intensity of desire, transforming complex emotional states into compelling visual narratives. The fluidity and dynamism of his brushwork invite viewers to delve into a world where colors and forms evoke deep, often unspoken, sentiments. The Desire Paintings are not just visual experiences but emotional journeys, resonating with anyone who has ever felt the pangs of longing. They are a profound exploration of human emotions, particularly longing and desire. These works stand out for their ability to merge the abstract with the figurative, creating a visual language that is both expressive and introspective.
Also on view are two sculptures of the space-encompassing series Spell My Name that know no real ‘front’ and no ‘back’, no predetermined perspective, just as the Desire Paintings. Renggli's sculptures' inherent surface structure is transformed into a new figure with a completely autonomous formal language. A dialogue with supposedly original reference works arises, but ultimately vanishes into thin air again due to their peculiarities.
Notable institutional exhibitions include the Kunst(Zeug)Haus in Rapperswil-Jona (2023); Villa Merkel, Esslingen (2020); Migros Museum, Zurich (2014); Kunsthalle St. Gallen (2013); Kunstverein Galerie Münsterland (2013); Kunstmuseum Bellpark Kriens, Luzern (2012); Associazione Barriera in Turin (2010); Kunsthalle Freiburg, CH (2009); Museum Kunstraum Baden (2009) and Kunsthalle Winterthur (2006).
His work is part of renowned collections such as the Julius Bär Collection, Zurich; Kunsthaus, Zurich and Migros Museum, Zurich; Bechtler Stiftung, Zurich; Rosenblum Collection, Paris and Fotomuseum, Winterthur.