Tobias Pils at the Secession: A New Cycle of Contemporary Paintings and Site-Specific Installation
Experience Tobias Pils' holistic approach, merging production and presentation with works inspired by the Secession building.
The Secession proudly presents an exhibition by Tobias Pils, showcasing a compelling new series of large-format paintings and an intricate site-specific installation. Pils deeply engaged with the venue, allowing the Secession building's architecture to influence his artistic motifs and forms. This unique presentation offers visitors a chance to explore how production and display coalesce into a single, cohesive experience of contemporary Viennese art.
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Tobias Pils at Secession in Vienna
Exhibition summary
This exhibition at the Secession features a new series of large-format paintings and a site-specific installation created by Tobias Pils. The artist deeply engaged with the exhibition's conception, merging production and presentation into a cohesive experience. Pils' work explores motifs, integrating forms inspired by the Secession building itself.
Curatorial context
Tobias Pils' exhibition at the Secession showcases a new body of work meticulously crafted for the space, consisting of large-scale paintings and an installation. Pils, who primarily works in painting and drawing, emphasizes a holistic approach where production and presentation coalesce. For this exhibition, he chose the Secession building itself as a motif, weaving its characteristic forms, such as the laurel dome, into his visual language. The exhibition title, 'Secession,' directly references the venue while allowing for artistic interpretation and historical connections to the early 20th century. Pils' artistic process is marked by a search for new motifs and a blend of expressive elements with geometric structures, maintaining a connection to representation despite abstract tendencies.
The exhibition transforms the Secession's spaces, beginning with a 'tunnel' effect in the staircase created by wavy, blue-painted tiles, reminiscent of subway stations or Otto Wagner's designs. This leads to a circular painting that directs visitors into the main exhibition rooms. Here, the walls are covered with canvases adapted to the spaces, described by Pils as 'too tight a bespoke suit.' The final room offers a sense of resolution, where individual motifs emerge with renewed autonomy. The artist's approach emphasizes intuition, inspiration, and individuality, viewing painting as a language of expression.
Admission and ticket notes
Information regarding ticketing for the Secession is available, and visitors are directed to an external booking platform for purchases. General opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
Tobias Pils key exhibition facts
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Tobias Pils at Secession in Vienna
Venue
Secession
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Nov 23, 2013 – Jan 24, 2014
Artist line / attribution
Tobias Pils, born in Linz in 1971, lives and works in Vienna. He works primarily in painting and drawing.
Vienna
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