APPOART

“Every painting is abstract”

Adrian Ghenie is a prominent Romanian contemporary painter born on August 13, 1977, in Baia Mare, Romania. He studied fine arts at the Arts and Crafts School in Baia Mare from 1991 to 1994 and later graduated from the Art and Design University of Cluj-Napoca in 2001.

Ghenie lives and works in Berlin, Germany, and has been a significant figure in the contemporary art scene. He co-founded Galeria Plan B in Cluj in 2005, which has become a critical venue for representing Romanian artists. His work has been widely exhibited, including at the Tate Liverpool, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi in Florence.

Artistic style:

Ghenie’s style is characterized by his use of a palette knife and stencils, which he employs to create textured and often macabre paintings. His subjects often include historical figures associated with genocide and mass suffering, depicted in a manner that appears gnawed and slashed, blurred, and speckled. His work has been compared to that of Francis Bacon.

Ghenie’s process involves creating collage compositions and using innovative drawing techniques, such as erasing and reapplying charcoal to paper, which he then transfers to canvas using a thin brush. His work often references historical and artistic narratives, drawing on personal memories, art historical references, film stills, and visual media from the internet.

Most important works:

The Fake Rothko (2010) – This painting depicts a man retching beside a Rothko painting propped against a wall. It sold for £1,426,000 ($2,428,140) in 2014, establishing Ghenie as a major figure in the contemporary art world. 

The Sunflowers of 1937 (2016) – Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers” painting, this large oil on canvas work sold for £3,177,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in London in 2016, making it the most expensive painting sold by Ghenie. The value was initially estimated between £400,000-£600,000. 

The Darwin Room (2013-2014) – This installation work, conceived as a “room within a room”, is in the collection of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. It combines Ghenie’s paintings with other elements to create an immersive environment. 

The Dada Room (2010) – Another installation work by Ghenie, this “room within a room” is in the permanent collection of S.M.A.K. in Ghent, Belgium. It reflects Ghenie’s interest in incorporating different mediums and creating multifaceted environments. 

Exhibitions:

Egon Schiele: Ghenie – The Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria

This exhibition, conceived by Adrian Ghenie, will feature his reinterpretations and new takes on lost artworks by Egon Schiele. It will be on view from October 11, 2024 to February 9, 2025. 

Drawn into the Present: Portraits on Paper – Thaddaeus Ropac, London Ely House. Ghenie will be part of this group exhibition featuring portraits on paper, which will run from December 14, 2023 to February 9, 2024.