forever after

Reuter Bausch Art Gallery and Julien Hübsch proudly invite you to forever after, featuring recent works by Julien Hübsch, Kolja Kärtner Sainz, and Minh Phuong Nguyen.

forever after may be interpreted as a commitment to leaving a lasting impact or legacy, but also represents the ongoing pursuit without defined end - the continuous endeavor into the unknown.

In the case of this exhibition: the themes of impermanence, spaces in perpetual motion, objects tied to their surroundings and the enduring imprints of time that mark every component of the work.

 forever after unites three emerging, contemporary artists on their quest to archive moments of transience in various forms. They engage with temporality in distinct ways, unveiling traces of time in objects, spaces and materials. This exploration extends beyond the physical realm, delving into the intangible spaces of memory and the collective recollection of objects and places.

Growing up between the German and Vietnamese cultures, Minh Phuong Nguyen (*1999) deals with topics like origin, childhood and identity. Her critical reflection on her social surroundings raises questions on cultural understanding and personal definition through her upbringing. These dynamics shape her artistic process - past, present and future. Through the medium of painting she explores fast forms and movements, reflections and surfaces which she breaks down analytically and metaphorically. Combining abstract forms of movement with figurative depictions of objects, altered through time and space, she unites the intermediate, tangible world with the intangible.

A similar approach to dissolving imagery can also be found in Kolja Kärtner Sainz' work, although coming from a much more abstract point of view. Kolja Kärtner Sainz (*1998) is a German painter based in Leipzig and a student at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig. In his work, he seeks an ideal intermediate state where representation and abstraction can coexist. Deeply exploring this intersection, he tries to freely interpret states of nature and the artificial. His work is not about capturing rigid moments, but rather blurs, movements and changes in perception. Working with oil and ink in many layers, his paintings appear to render the conflicting forces of abstraction and figuration intertwined in futuristic states of never ending change.

In his recent work, Julien Hübsch focuses on specific public spaces and how time is shaping not only the actual space but also the life that it inhibits. During his recent residency at “Cité internationale des arts Paris” he investigated the origins of graffiti and interventions in the public space, similar to his body of work revolving around the Metzeschmelz site in the South of Luxembourg. His work in recent years oscillates between painting, sculpture, installation and environment, directly quoting and taking from specific spaces, thus creating fragments that function as witnesses of an abstract urban space. His work is dictated by the material and its provenance, its color and surface. By not trying to recreate or copy, but to directly export/extract from the public space, the works of Julien Hübsch are true relics of time and space.

“I wanted to bring together 3 emerging young artists, who deal with similar questions on very different levels and look at one thing with different eyes: time. I am happy that Julie & Lou gave me the opportunity to feature these two great young artists and friends alongside myself, for an exhibition that represents the state of the ultra contemporary art landscape in Germany and Luxembourg. The fact that the gallery is open to participate in this kind of discourse and provide a platform for it, shows how they want to feature not only the past and present but mostly the future.” – Julien Hübsch, curator of forever after.

forever after is the first gallery show of Minh Phuong Nguyen, currently studying in Vienna at the Academy of Fine Arts and at Kunsthochschule Mainz. She has shown her work in Frankfurt, Berlin and Vienna among others, and is a recipient of the Studienstiftung and Deutschland-stipend.

Kolja Kärtner Sainz was featured in Reuter Bausch's summer show “un été en papier”, he also presented a soloshow at DS Galerie (Paris) and has exhibited in group shows with Spencer Brownstone Gallery (New York), Tabula Rasa Gallery (Beijing) and Thom Osterhoof Projects (London). He will have his second solo show at Tabula Rasa Gallery (London) in May 2024.

This will be Julien Hübsch's first exhibition after finishing his residency at “Cité internationale des arts Paris” and winning the Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe at this year's Salon du CAL. In recent years he was nominated for the Edward Steichen award (2022), Robert Schuman Kunstpreis (2021), showed at Casino forum d'art contemporain (Luxembourg, 2021), LIAR NYC (New York, 2023), Lage Egal (Berlin, 2022), Diamant - museum of urban culture (2022) and Reuter Bausch (2021-2023) among others.

His solo show “walls/origins/replacements” opens at Galerie Dominique Lang in Dudelange on February 3rd 2024.