From January 22 to 29, 2022, the Aachen Galerie Am Elisengarten at Hartmannstraße exhibits works by Wolfgang Binding.
Born in Munich in 1937, the sculptor and graphic artist Binding first learned to be a stonemason and sculptor at the Cologne Cathedral Construction Works. At the Düsseldorf Art Academy he studied sculpture with Zoltan Székessy. From 1965 to 1975 he was assistant to Professor Elmar Hillebrand at the RWTH Aachen. After a visiting professorship at Northern Michigan University, he became a professor at RWTH Aachen in 1976. Since his retirement in 1993, he has worked as a freelance artist.
"Goethe already recognized: Everything living is surrounded by an aura. To experience this aura of the living when drawing and to preserve it in my sculpture is a dream that I still dream today" (Wolfgang Binding, 2018).
Thus, Binding's work is characterized by the search for form; capturing the essence of the animals depicted becomes the central theme of his oeuvre. Wibke Birth, curator at the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum Aachen writes: "Using charcoal and chalk, wax and finally bronze, Binding makes his material behave like the desired animal, leading his viewers to recognize certain traits of the animals. (...) Particularly in the case of certain types of animals, such as the fox or bear, the artist's subtle sense of humor certainly resonates. Thus, it seems that he does not remain solely attached to the natural model in all depictions, but also gives the animals the characteristics that generally shape our perception through their role in fables and fairy tales." (From: Wibke Vera Birth (ed.), "Lebendige Form - Bronzen & Zeichnungen des Aachener Bildhauers Wolfgang Binding," Aachen 2018).
Aachen citizens are most familiar with his large sculpture "Heiliger Georg," which moved to its new location in front of the police headquarters on Trierer Straße in 2018, the work "Spielende Pferde" on the grounds of the ALRV, which was installed there on the occasion of the 2006 World Equestrian Games, and smaller works on the grounds of the Aachen Zoo. Other sculptures, fountains and monuments can be found in numerous cities in Germany and Switzerland. In 2006, the Guggenheim Foundation purchased a large goat sculpture by Wolfgang Binding, which was shown at the Deutsche Guggenheim Art Gallery in Berlin as part of the exhibition "Hommage à Picasso" by Hamburg artist Hanne Darboven.
Works in public space (selection):
Herwart Opitz, bust at the foyer of the Aachen Werkzeugmaschinenlabor (WZL), 1979
Heiliger Georg, Aachen, 1980
Bärbelchen, Alsdorf, 1982
Ponyführerin, Tierpark Aachen, 1983
Spiel- und Erlebnisbrunnen, Bergheim, 1984
Eselreiterin, Stolberg, 1986
Entenfänger, Tierpark Aachen, 1986
Kuhjunge schiebt Kuh, Brunnenanlage Aachen-Eilendorf, 1988
Matthias Overstolzen, figure at the tower of the Cologne City Hall, 1990's
Gerhard Overstolzen, figure at the tower of the Cologne City Hall, 1990's
Spielende Pferde, Aachen, 2006
In compliance with the current CoronaSchVO, the exhibition will open with a hybrid vernissage on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. on site with the artist present and via virtual tour on our website.
Opening hours during the exhibition:
monday to friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
