’Gesamtkunstwerk’ show at Saatchi Gallery, London

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London
The Saatchi Gallery's first survey of German art, entitled ‘Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany', sums up the oeuvres of 24 artists. In typical Saatchi style, the works and their creators, who hail from the likes of Berlin, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, are still relatively unknown in the UK London
(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery)

He may have used it on only two occasions, but Wagner's mouthful-of-a-term 'Gesamtkunstwerk' - most famously expressed in his 1849 'Art and Revolution' essay to encourage an interrelation of the arts - has since become a popular moniker for a genre that synthesises art forms such as fashion, design, architecture and art. It is also aptly reflects the scope of the works on show at the Saatchi Gallery's first ever survey of German art.

'Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany' focuses on the oeuvres of 24 artists. In typical Saatchi style, the works and their creators, who hail from the likes of Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Stuttgart, are still relatively unknown in the UK.

The diversity of German art now is the exhibition's key talking point. To this end, the body of work on display - from sculpture and installation through to painting and drawing - presents a delightfully rounded picture, from the lyrical to the grotesque.

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

Composer Wagner's term ‘Gesamtkunswerk' has become a popular moniker for a genre that synthesises art forms such as fashion, design, architecture and art. It is particularly applicable to Germany's ever-growing status as a creative hub

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Untitled' by Thomas Kiesewetter, 2004

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Geschwister' by Isa Genzken, 2004

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Untitled' by Isa Genzken, 2006

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Ahnenbild 2411' by André Butzer, 2006

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Untitled' by Georg Herold, 2010

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'To Drink A Glass Of Melted Snow' by Ida Ekblad, 2010

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Untitled' by Friedrich Kunath, 2007

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Soap Sample IX', Julian Rosefeldt, 2000-2004

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Eva' by Markus Selg, 2010

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Untitled' by Gert and Uwe Tobias, 2005

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

Installation view of 'Untitled' by Gert and Uwe Tobias, 2009

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Untitled' (detail) by Gert and Uwe Tobias, 2007

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

"Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art from Germany, at Saatchi Gallery, London

'Pretentious Crap' by Zhivago Duncan, 2010-2011

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London)

ADDRESS

Saatchi Gallery

Duke of York's HQ

King's Road

London SW3 4SQ

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