Bernd Koberling at Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Stockholm 18/11-19/12-2010

Bernd Koberling has, with his abstract and colorful expression, had a prominent place in the German art scene for more than 40 years. After larger exhibitions at Malmö Konsthall in 2001, and the Nordic Watercolor Museum in 2005, Galleri Andersson/Sandström is proud to present Memories of Water: Autumn 2010, Koberlings first solo exhibition in Stockholm, opening on the 18^th of November.

In the 70’s Bernd Koberling (born 1938) took part in the Junge Wilde movement, which, during a time dominated by minimalism and conceptual art, instead indulged in expressive painting with intense colors. This expression has been what Koberling consistently devotes his art to continue explore.

The Berlin-based artists have always been drawn to visit northern latitudes for painting, first to Lapland and the north of Norway, and since 25 years back to the isolated valley Loðmundarfjörður on Icelandw, which now is his second home. Here, he has fully come to grasp the abundant freedom of outdoor painting and master its conditions.

Koberling creates in the open air, surrounded by the stunning landscapes of Iceland. Although, the environment may seem idyllic, the up to ten-hour long sessions take place under quite rough conditions and the paintings are often processed over a long period of time. Until considered ready, session after session, the paintings are left outdoors in damp conditions. This, almost organic process, later continues once back in the studio in Berlin. The self-developed technique which Koberling is adopting was introduced in 1995, as he began to paint with diluted acrylics on aluminum or wooden panels primed with gesso.

The artistic expression of Bernd Koberling is born out of the ongoing conversation he has with nature’s own world of ideas. The paintings are as extension of the Arctic vast expanses, but instead of depicting their landscapes, Koberling is capturing their essence in a flora of his own painterly associations. He says:  –”I draw from nature but translate that which is seen and experienced into my own form language.”

Bernd Koberling has since the 60’s been exhibited at museums and art galleries worldwide. In 2006, he was awarded with the Fred Thieler Award for his oeuvre and his contribution to the development of German contemporary painting. This is the artist’s second exhibition at Galleri Andersson/Sandström.