The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)Tobias Kaspar
–Press release
VI, VII is pleased to present a new exhibition by Tobias Kaspar, a liberal re-staging of his 2021 exhibition at the gallery. The first presentation in our current space in a newly realized harbor district of the city, “The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19” took a look at the last issue of Interview Magazine published before the pandemic.
The press text for the 2021 exhibition read as follows:
"VI, VII is pleased to present ‘The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19’ a series of fifty-two works on paper that translate the fashion and many celebrities featured in the magazine Andy Warhol founded into fragile, elegant individual works. Characters are carved out from the dark in ink and acrylic paint, like Seurat’s charcoal portraits and drawings from the 1880s.
To some viewers Kaspar’s ink drawings may feel like the portrait of a now closed decade, things that never can be again: a Seth Price Bomber jacket work, Grimes dressed in Dior, dancers from the New York City Ballet, a chef from Noma, Copenhagen’s renowned restaurant draped in Lanvin. Finn Wolfhard, the actor, and more make cameo appearances."
Can they really never be again? Or did the world perhaps not change as much as we hoped for? Did we hope? Did we change? Are we continuing on as if nothing happened? Is the world spinning ever faster?
Following the pandemic the art world and the turbo capitalistic society that it embodies is an endlessly hungry vampire, always seeking out the new. As in the fashion industry artists are forced and force themselves to hammer out new artworks—season by season, fair by fair. Repetition, rehashing and re-staging are common strategies to escape these forces, if only for a moment. So here the drawings are presented once again in edited form.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Tobias Kaspar investigates how consumptive desires and societal values are created and altered through a diverse range of media that includes painting, photography, video, publishing, and installation. Kaspar is interested in utilizing the fashion industry as a mirror to reflect on personal practice and as a tool for production; to explore questions of authorship and authenticity, and for its impact on the formation of individual identity and the behavioral patterns of our time.
In the early 2010’s Kaspar’s work was first recognized within an institutional framework in the context of a discourse around post-appropriation art. Two exhibitions are worth highlighting in this regard: the 2011 exhibition ‘That’s the way we do it. The Techniques and Aesthetics of Appropriation. From Ei Arakawa to Andy Warhol’ at Kunsthaus Bregenz by Yilmaz Dziewor and Stefan Kalmar’s group exhibition “Frozen Lakes” in 2013 at Artists Space in New York.
Adolescence, the question and struggle of how to fit into a society and systems are recurring topics in the artist’s body of work.
Solo exhibitions by the artist have taken place at Kunsthalle Bern; Kunsthalle, St. Gallen; Kunsthalle, Sao Paulo; Cinecittà Studios, The Swiss Institute, Rome; KIM? Contemporary art Center, Riga, Latvia; Midway Contemporary Art Center, Minneapolis and Foundry Seoul.
The artist’s work has been the focus of a solo exhibition at MAMCO museum in Geneva and was part of the touring exhibition “Information Today” curated by Elena Filipovic, which traveled from the Kunsthalle Basel to the Astrup Fearnly Museum in 2022.
The artist’s work has also appeared in group exhibitions at Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Kunsthalle Zürich; Hamburger Bahnhof Museum, Berlin; The Artist’s Institute, New York; Artists Space, New York; Swiss Art Awards, Bundesamt für Kultur, Basel; Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna; Galerie Francesca Pia, Zurich; Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing and Galerie Neu, Berlin.
Born in Basel in 1984 the artist is now based in Riga and Zurich.
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar - The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar - The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar - The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar - The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar - The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar - The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
The Complete Interview Magazine, Issue 529, Winter 19 (Restaged)
Tobias Kaspar, Sofia Steinberg in Moschino Couture, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
26 × 32.7 cm (10 ¼ × 12 ⅞ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
26 × 32.7 cm (10 ¼ × 12 ⅞ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, A Woman Under the Influence, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
26.5 × 42 cm (10 ⅜ × 16 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
26.5 × 42 cm (10 ⅜ × 16 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Sofia Steinberg in Mugler, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
27.3 × 34 cm (10 ¾ × 13 ⅜ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
27.3 × 34 cm (10 ¾ × 13 ⅜ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Telfar, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 31.8 cm (9 ½ × 12 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 31.8 cm (9 ½ × 12 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, New York City Ballet (tights, socks and slippers), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 41.5 cm (9 ½ × 16 ⅜ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 41.5 cm (9 ½ × 16 ⅜ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Celine by Hedi, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Hopkins' serving tea, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
15.2 × 24 cm (6 × 9 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
15.2 × 24 cm (6 × 9 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, New York City Ballet (sweatshirt and shirt by Hedi Slimane for Celine), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Anthony Hopkins' tea set, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
23.9 × 16.8 cm (9 ⅜ × 6 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
23.9 × 16.8 cm (9 ⅜ × 6 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Loewe (Logotype), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
21.2 × 29.8 cm (8 ⅜ × 11 ¾ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
21.2 × 29.8 cm (8 ⅜ × 11 ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Saint Laurent, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
26.8 × 34.4 cm (10 ½ × 13 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
26.8 × 34.4 cm (10 ½ × 13 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Larry Kramer (Act Up), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
19 × 21.7 cm (7 ½ × 8 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
19 × 21.7 cm (7 ½ × 8 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, David Zilber of Noma in Lanvin, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24.7 × 40 cm (9 ¾ × 15 ¾ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24.7 × 40 cm (9 ¾ × 15 ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Finn with mask, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
32 × 16.4 cm (12 ⅝ × 6 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
32 × 16.4 cm (12 ⅝ × 6 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, New York City Ballet (Miriam in a Dior dress), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Shirts and pants by Marni, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
32 × 17.6 cm (12 ⅝ × 6 ⅞ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
32 × 17.6 cm (12 ⅝ × 6 ⅞ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Finn Wolfhard in a Dior jacket and Sacai hat, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Sofia Steinberg, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
14.3 × 18 cm (5 ⅝ × 7 ⅛ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
14.3 × 18 cm (5 ⅝ × 7 ⅛ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Finn Wolfhard photographed by Cruz Valdez, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 39.5 cm (9 ½ × 15 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 39.5 cm (9 ½ × 15 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Pose, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
11.5 × 24 cm (4 ½ × 9 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
11.5 × 24 cm (4 ½ × 9 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Julia Fox in Miu Miu (Coke), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
15.6 × 15.5 cm (6 ⅛ × 6 ⅛ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
15.6 × 15.5 cm (6 ⅛ × 6 ⅛ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, The Kiss (Tom Ford), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
21 × 29.7 cm (8 ¼ × 11 ¾ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
21 × 29.7 cm (8 ¼ × 11 ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Joel Kim Booster in a Gucci jumpsuit, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
25.1 × 42 cm (9 ⅞ × 16 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
25.1 × 42 cm (9 ⅞ × 16 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Finn Wolfhard in a Ferragamo jumpsuit, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 42 cm (9 ½ × 16 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 42 cm (9 ½ × 16 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Sofia Steinberg in Dior, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
14 × 18 cm (5 ½ × 7 ⅛ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
14 × 18 cm (5 ½ × 7 ⅛ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Finn Wolfhard in Michael Kors, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Gabbriette in a Hedi Slimane Celine jacket and Kiki de Montparnasse bra, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
26.5 × 42 cm (10 ⅜ × 16 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
26.5 × 42 cm (10 ⅜ × 16 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, The Lighthouse (Robert Pattinson and William Dafoe in front of the lighthouse), 2022
Ink and acrylic on paper
Ink and acrylic on paper
Tobias Kaspar, New York City Ballet (Tights by Capezio), 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Still life with a fan, lipstick and perfume, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
21 × 29.7 cm (8 ¼ × 11 ¾ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
21 × 29.7 cm (8 ¼ × 11 ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Laundry, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
18.6 × 26.7 cm (7 ⅜ × 10 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
18.6 × 26.7 cm (7 ⅜ × 10 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Celine by Hedi Slimane, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
24 × 32 cm (9 ½ × 12 ⅝ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Gucci and the Nabokov Butterly Collection, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
42.6 × 29.9 cm (16 ¾ × 11 ¾ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
42.6 × 29.9 cm (16 ¾ × 11 ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Don't Call Me Baby, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
17.7 × 27.3 cm (7 × 10 ¾ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
17.7 × 27.3 cm (7 × 10 ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Eliza in Gucci, 2020
Ink and acrylic on paper
25.1 × 42 cm (9 ⅞ × 16 ½ inches)
Ink and acrylic on paper
25.1 × 42 cm (9 ⅞ × 16 ½ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Robert Pattinson (Twilight Era), 2023
Acryllic paint on canvas
27 × 19 × 2 cm (10 ⅝ × 7 ½ × ¾ inches)
Acryllic paint on canvas
27 × 19 × 2 cm (10 ⅝ × 7 ½ × ¾ inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Kristen Stewart (Classic), 2023
Acryllic paint on canvas
24 × 20 × 2.5 cm (9 ½ × 7 ⅞ × 1 inches)
Acryllic paint on canvas
24 × 20 × 2.5 cm (9 ½ × 7 ⅞ × 1 inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Kristen Stewart Chanel Jewelry, 2023
Acryllic paint on canvas
24 × 20 × 2.5 cm (9 ½ × 7 ⅞ × 1 inches)
Acryllic paint on canvas
24 × 20 × 2.5 cm (9 ½ × 7 ⅞ × 1 inches)
Tobias Kaspar, Kristen Stewart in Personal Shopper, 2023
Acryllic paint on canvas
32 × 20.5 × 2.5 cm (12 ⅝ × 8 ⅛ × 1 inches)
Acryllic paint on canvas
32 × 20.5 × 2.5 cm (12 ⅝ × 8 ⅛ × 1 inches)
