The Liberation of Form

The departure from photo-realistic depictions of the real world in early 20^th-century fine arts was one of the most significant paradigm shifts of modernism. With the exhibition “The Liberation of Form”, the Lehmbruck Museum highlights the works of Barbara Hepworth. She was one of the few female artists of her time who influenced abstract styles in sculpting and whose works inspired subsequent generations of artists. Not only are her artworks remarkable in themselves, but also her theories on the role of sculpture and the relationship of space, material and emptiness. Although she never outwardly embraced an activistic attitude, a review of her works and written estate demonstrates how deeply connected she was to nature and with what interest and respect she viewed the mutual relationship between humans and nature.

This exhibition not only juxtaposes Hepworth’s works with pieces by Henry Moore, Constantin Brâncuși, Naum Gabo, Hans Arp and selected sculptures by Wilhelm Lehmbruck, but also reveals the numerous links connecting contemporary artists to Hepworth and her environmental stance. Displayed alongside contemporary positions, the exhibition situates Hepworth’s visionary work in the historical context of mainly male contemporaries and reflects on its significance from a present-day perspective. To this end, the Lehmbruck Museum will also present recent and new cross-media and cross-genre works by Claudia Comte, Julian Charrière, Nezaket Ekicis, Nevin Aladağ, Tacita Dean and Kurt Laurenz Theinert.
 

Artistic director: Söke Dinkla
Curator: Jessica Keilholz-Busch

Artists: Nevin Aladağ, Jean Arp, Julian Charrière, Claudia Comte, Tacita Dean, Naum Gabo, Alberto Giacometti, Barbara Hepworth, Wilhelm Lehmbruck and others

Exhibition: Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg: 2 Apr. – 20 Aug. 2023