Gallery Hopping: Georg Baselitz on Sex and Death at White Cube Bermondsey

Many of the works feature Baselitz's wife Elke.

Georg Baselitz Oh rosy oh rosy(Ach rosa ach rosa) (2015)
Photo: courtesy White Cube

Outspoken art world elder statesman Georg Baselitz’s exhibition “Wir Fahren Aus” or “We’re Off” opened at White Cube Bermondsey on Tuesday and comprises of his trademark upside-down large-scale painting, sculptural works, and works on paper.

For the paintings, Baselitz has taken inspiration from the German expressionist Otto Dix’s work The Artist’s Parents (1924) in a series that features huge white figures painted on a background of tick textured paint. In addition, Baseliz revisits his 1975 work Bedroom, of him and his wife, Elke, who is also featured in the drawings on view.

“Wir Fahren Aus” is being seen as a study of sex, death, and of old age but as the artist himself approaches 78, his output is showing no signs of weakening or slowing down. Although the force with which he took on the German government recently would have left you in no doubt.

See images from the exhibition below:

Georg Baselitz Wir fahren aus ¦ Were off White Cube Bermondsey installation view Photo: Courtesy White Cube

Installation view of Georg Baselitz “Wir fahren aus” (We’re off) at White Cube Bermondsey. Photo: © Georg Baselitz. Photo © White Cube (Ben Westoby)

 

Georg Baselitz Hotplate fa caldo(Ofenplatte fa caldo) (2015) Photo: courtesy White Cube

Georg Baselitz Hotplate fa caldo (Ofenplatte fa caldo) (2015) Photo: © Georg Baselitz. Photo © Jochen Littkemann Courtesy White Cube

 

Installation view of Georg Baselitz "Wir fahren aus" (We're off) at White Cube Bermondsey. Photo: © Georg Baselitz. Photo © White Cube (Ben Westoby)

Installation view of Georg Baselitz “Wir fahren aus” (We’re off) at White Cube Bermondsey. Photo: © Georg Baselitz. Photo © White Cube (Ben Westoby)

 

Georg Baselitz Winter Sleep (Winterschlaf) (2014) Photo: courtesy White Cube

Georg Baselitz Winter Sleep (Winterschlaf) (2014). Photo: © Georg Baselitz. Photo © Jochen Littkemann Courtesy White Cube

Wir Fahren Aus” is on view at White Cube Bermondsey until July 27.

Article topics