Albert Mertz

MERTZ+

Curated by Peter Holst Henckel

Mertz+ should be seen as a modest attempt at introducing some new aspects of Albert Mertz's artistic oeuvre. Specifically, it is the first time that some of the exhibited works are presented in public. Other of the exhibited works have previously been exhibited, but are here presented from a new angle. Parallel to the exhibition, 24 pages in the shape of a catalogue will be published, supplementing and supporting the perspective that the exhibition outlines through images, text, and layout.

In the exhibition as well as in the catalogue, three perspectives or vanishing lines are laid down that each try to encircle important aspects of Mertz and his art. In the exhibition, this circumscription is demonstrated in the way the works are hung and the way the space is distributed. Both the catalogue and exhibition have been prepared by the artist Peter Holst Henckel (b. 1966).

Peter Holst Henckel writes about Mertz:

Upon his death on December 30th, 1990, Mertz left behind an extensive production of gouaches, montages, collages, and paintings, besides an important body of sketches, writings, and notes. It has been a very special experience to discover this by all measures extraordinary oeuvre. In particular, the correspondence between Mertz's production of works and his theoretical reflections have been enlightening. Combined, they have given an amazing insight into one of the great persons in Danish art. As minute and bashful as he was in stature, as important and inevitable he was, and is, in modern Danish art and – I maintain – international art.

Albert Mertz was a very productive artist. He started early – was admitted to the fine arts academy when only 16 years old – and until the very end of his life he stubbornly continued to investigate and challenge art. His artistic practice extended itself to all genres, media, and forms. His attitude was that art was not restricted to any definite appearance, to any specific object, but rather that it was identical to the effect that it had on the spectator. Art must therefore always relate to the contemporary and dare to challenge it. It is well known that at an early stage he started to work with film. Later, video and TV followed. He always managed to add something more – qualitatively as well as quantitatively. In that sense, he was a generous artist. An artist+.

Exhibition views from Mertz+, Albert Mertz (2005) at Stalke Galleri, Kirke Sonnerup.

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