Annet Gelink Gallery is proud to present the first solo exhibition of German artist Marko Lehanka (Herborn, 1961) in the Netherlands. We have first shown Lehanka's work in the groupshow Gruppenausstellung in 2002.
In his works Lehanka turns to the chaotic world of things with an anti-formalist iconoclastic bravado that recalls Martin Kippenberger and Dieter Roth. His work borrows from youth culture and the bourgeoisie and mixes up all manners of autobiographical and art-historical connections.
Lehanka takes the world as it reveals itself to him, first accepting unconditionally what he sees then repeating the melody of the topics he addresses, and finally mirroring them in his way. Lehanka uses aesthetic means to radicalize what exists - complete with all its contradictions and absurdities. Not to rest in piece-wood shows two boats built without any know-how of boat construction: "Silvia Bauer" has actually been let to sea in the Atlantic Ocean and is presented along with the video documentation of this heroic if short maiden trip. The second ship, glorious "Dolce Vita", is a motor yacht complete with motor, radio and cigarette lighter.
Marko Lehanka's installations are excitingly playful and simultaneously tragic-comic. He cultivates the pathetic enthusiasm and naivety of a dilettante as a way to explore artistic expression. There is "Wunderbaum", a tree trunk on rolls which, behind a tiny door, carries a small bottle of "Schnaps", a demonstration of squirrel sculptures carrying signs that claim "I don't like Marko Lehanka", as well as various miniature haystacks with direction signs saying "Angst 6 km" or "Depression 10 km".
In not to rest in piece-wood Marko Lehanka explores the world of his studio/home in the countryside in the middle of Germany. Surrounding nature and scattered works in progress get intermingled. Each object can be seen as an entity in it's own right and also in relation to the other works in the installation. Along with new works we present some classic pieces that give insight into the artist's impressive oeuvre.
