This introduction of Signer’s work to China starts with an investigation of his artworks. Through this exhibition, the curatorial team hopes to share with the public Signer’s memories, that were formerly boxed up and preserved in archives and databases. Signer has never been a fan of large-scale events and artworks, and he intentionally avoids talking about himself. Indeed, at documenta 8, when he was very much in the art world limelight, he may have felt the level of attention was too much. Signer is an artist who always contemplates his relation to the world, and who always lives in self-reflection. He existed – in the sense that his artworks and their dimensions are deeply related to the world; yet he never exists – in the sense that part of his artworks are presented in real time in front of an audience. He even deliberately wipes away his own traces, or his artworks’ connections to the world, and stays apart, in an individual state of being. This kind of ‘disconnection’ does not exist as a blunt fracturing from the world. Instead, it is a process of dissolving into daily life. It is clear that Signer’s work has not changed due to shifting politics, economics, or even time. He maintains simple methods of expressing his understanding of the world, re-discovering the world through materialised forms and through experiments with the spiritual and material.
Roman Signer’s first touring exhibition to China is kindly supported by Museum of Contemporary Art of CAA, CAFA Art Museum, Art Museum of GAFA, OCT Art and Design Gallery (Shenzhen), MAN Nuoro Art Museum (Italy), Wti, and Chronus Art Center. Special thanks go to Mr. Yang Jingsong, Mr. Qiu Zhijie, Mr. Wang Huangsheng, Mr. Wang Chunchen, Mr. Hu Bin, Mr. Feng Feng, Mr. Lorenzo Giusti for their curatorial support, and Mr. Zhang Qinghong for his generous support.
The exhibition is also supported by: documenta Archiv Kassel, Helmhaus, Swiss Arts Council, Chronus Art Center, Kunstgiesserei St.Gallen etc. Generous support also comes from Corinne Schatz, David Signer, Karin Stengel, Simon Maurer, Barbara Signer, Michael Bodenmann, Uli Sigg, Josef Felix Müller, Peter Zimmermann, Reto Thüring, Rachel Withers, Max Wechsler, Geneviève Loup, Felix Lehner, and Aline Feichtinger.
Publication and copyright support come from Vexer Verlag, graphic design is provided by Yu Qiongjie with Transwhite Studio, translation and copy-editing is provided by Eva Luedi, Wang Pan, Iris Xinru Long, and Susannah Worth.
On November 3rd, Roman Signer will realize his first work of sculpture to have been produced in China – the result of a commission from Ms. Sunny Sun and LUXELAKES·A4 Art Museum, Chengdu, Sichuan.
The project’s development has been widespread, proceeding via Hangzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sardegna (Italy), and finally Chengdu, where Signer completes this unique sculptural piece.
Signer’s endeavour begins with the water cycle active around the viewers: reflecting on the ephemeral nature of time, we meet moments of uncertainty, subtlety, dynamics, and humour.
Water from the lake shall return to it, eventually.
-Li Zhenhua
A project founded by Li Zhenhua, Zhang Qinghong and Roman Signer in 2014.
