TOM REICHSTEIN contemporary presents "In Artificial Opposition," an introspective solo exhibition by Steffen Jopp. The exhibition explores the multifaceted dimensions of identity, reflection, and transformation, conveyed through the prismatic lens of Jopp’s steel masks.
By innovatively incorporating MRI scans of his own skull, Jopp expands the scope of his art to a dimension that is both intimate and universal. This exhibition leads viewers from the physical boundary of our existence, represented by the skin in his leather works, to the deepest interior of the human body and mind.
Jopp’s leather works open the narrative gateway to the exhibition with depictions of flowing, biomorphic beings, whose front and back faces remind us of mythical traditions of indigenous peoples and ancient civilizations. These works, which appeal to the transformative power of shape-shifters and skinwalkers, use leather not just as a material but as a medium to explore and depict human skin as an interface with the outer world. The skillful processing of the leather, its texture, and the associated symbolic interweavings lead viewers into a world where the archaic and the contemporary, the material and the spiritual, merge.
Further into the exhibition, Jopp’s sculptures in shining stainless steel engage in a remarkable dialogue with Joseph Beuys’ work complex "Show Your Wound." Jopp connects to Beuys' thematic explorations by creating hybrid beings whose finely branched external organs intertwine with their surroundings in almost a mystical manner. These sculptures, which in their form language simultaneously connect to the natural world and bridge to the inner, emotional landscape of humans, utilize contemporary materials to address questions of isolation, protection, and energetic permeability. The folds and creases in the steel works narrate a constant transformation, a search for the true core of our being, culminating in the MRI scans of Jopp's skull.
Thus, the exhibition represents a profound investigation into human existence, stretching from the outermost shell to the innermost core. Jopp invites us to contemplate the complexity of our own identity, to explore the layers of our being, and in doing so, redefine the fluid boundaries between the self and the other, between the material and the immaterial."In Artificial Opposition" promises not just a visual and conceptual experience but also an introspective journey that personally engages every viewer. Although Jopp’s art reveals an open vulnerability, it simultaneously carries the seed of healing, as part of a process aimed at renewal. These works are like visions rooted in the present and growing within us, casting light on possible futures that might ripen through our contemplation.
