AIR: Jochen Mühlenbrink

Cuturi Gallery is thrilled to present AIR by German painter, Jochen Mühlenbrink (b. 1980). In this new body of paintings, developed during his residency at the gallery, Mühlenbrink further deepens his exploration of illusion and reality through his Window Paintings series. This time, the artist is deeply immersed and inspired by Singapore’s architecture, skylines, waterscapes, landscapes, colours, light, scents, and sounds. These sensory impressions are transposed into each painting, to vividly capture the sunny, rainy, and airy moods of the city-state.

The window, a recurring motif in Mühlenbrink's oeuvre, serves as both a "basic anthropological constant" in human dwellings and a central element of visual experience. Yet, his Window Paintings are not traditional windows offering clear vistas of the world beyond. Instead, they obscure more than they reveal, with the outlines of the external world barely discernible through fogged panes. Inspired by the shifting light and shadow of the skyline, his latest series invites viewers to question the nature of perception. Familiar objects are veiled, obscured, or transformed, creating a tension between what is real and what is imagined. Much like twilight, which softens the transition between day and night or the transient process of condensation, these paintings evoke a sense of intellectual curiosity, tinged with a playful, almost childish delight in uncovering the unexpected.

The artist’s approach of double imitation, rendering illusion within illusion, challenges us to reconsider where authenticity lies. Is it the artist who deceives us, or do we deceive ourselves by projecting familiarity onto his compositions? Mühlenbrink’s work compels us to question how we see and interpret the world, moving beyond surface-level photorealism or illusionism to probe the very mechanics of perception.

Jochen Mühlenbrink’s AIR transforms sensory impressions into vivid depictions of the city’s moods. Through his Window Paintings, he elevates the overlooked, the temporary, and the trivial objects into central motifs, revealing the complexities of urban life and its enigmatic rhythm, connecting us to the city’s multifaceted essence.

AIR will be on view at Cuturi Gallery from 30 November 2024 to 4 January 2025.