A Conversation on Baselitz

Saturday 30 November, 4pm

The conversation between Philippe Dagen, historian and art critic, and Frédérique Goerig-Hergott, Chief Curator at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, will take place in Georg Baselitz's exhibition Time at our Pantin gallery. In these new paintings and drawings, he pays artistic tribute to Elke, his wife of nearly sixty years and a constant source of inspiration in the evolution of his artistic practice. 

Dagen and Goerig-Hergott (curator of Corpus Baselitz at the Unterlinden Museum in 2018) will discuss Baselitz's recent work as an intimate meditation on old age, in relation to the meaning of love and the function of portraiture. They will broaden the scope of the conversation by situating the importance of Baselitz's work both today and within the context of 20th and 21st century art history. As Goerig-Hergott describes, ‘Ever since the Avignon series which was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2015, the paintings of this new cycle, based on the observation of his own body and that of his wife Elke, refer to his old paintings, his memories and the great masters of art history. Through the repetition of the motifs created with the highest sense of urgency, Georg Baselitz reminds us that it is not a question of continuing his life, but of constantly starting it over.’

In Heinz Peter Schwerfel's documentary film Baselitz 2017, which will be screened before the discussion, Baselitz explores the importance of his recent work, which is increasingly focused on his personal universe, and the artist is presented with certain statements he made earlier in his career to describe what has changed, and what will never change.

Free access upon availability. The conversation will take place in French.