Josephsohn

in 2012, Lismore Castle Arts is delighted to present a solo show by Hans Josephsohn. Staged in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth and Kesselhaus Josephsohn, the exhibition will feature works dating from 1950 to 2011, specially selected for Lismore including pieces in the gallery and the historic Castle Gardens.

Josephsohn’s sculptures focus on the figure in its many guises – standing, sitting, and reclining, as well as numerous interpretations of the human head. But Josephsohn is not endeavouring to capture any sense of likeness. Rather he is searching for something deeper, something enduring almost permanent. Many of his works evoke art from classical societies, including the Moai sculptures on Easter Island and medieval Romanesque sculptures.

Josephsohn begins his process using plaster which he finds perfect for the simplicity and spontaneity it provides. Plaster allows a freedom to add, subtract and edit his work repeatedly. This process is evident in the works – the movements and gestures of the artists’ hands remain and the organic qualities of plaster referencing Josephsohn’s hand in the making. Latterly many of his works have been reimagined in brass at the Kesselhaus Josephsohn complex, home to an exhibition space, archive and foundry.

Josephsohn, now in his 90s, is a highly regarded artist and his practice continues to inform and inspire contemporary artists. This will be his first solo exhibition in Ireland and his first institutional exhibition since 2008. In the past decade there have been major solo exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam and the Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt. The exhibition at Lismore Castle Arts offers a rare opportunity to enjoy key works from an internationally important artist.

To coincide with the preview, on 12 May there will be a special discussion at Lismore Castle Arts on the influence of Josephsohn’s work on contemporary practice. Participants will include Thomas Houseago, Matthew Day Jackson, Rashid Johnson, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Iwan Wirth, chaired by Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith. Throughout the summer there will be a programme of events involving cultural commentators and a specially commissioned publication will be published in summer 2012.