Sebastian Dannenberg The Great Escape
Artist talk

Sebastian Dannenberg has chosen The Great Escape as the theme for his exhibition. The predominant color – blue – already hints to the viewer at the direction the exhibited works point toward: on the one hand, they deal with departure and new beginnings – whether a journey to the blue sea or a liberating gaze at a radiant blue sky – but also with the real-life flight of people from economic hardship or political persecution. In his work, Sebastian Dannenberg likes to combine painting and space. Thus, the exhibition at Cadoro features several works in which residual color pigments were processed using an intaglio press. The result is prints reminiscent of Rorschach test images – airy, ephemeral, and playful in appearance. On another wall, two paintings hanging side by side feature a delicate blue horizon line, created using a chalk line like its used in construction business; a painting covered in plastic to the left of them evokes the image of blue water with the sky above. Sculptural metal works are also on display under the title The Great Escape.

Gallerist and art historian Dr. Dorothea van der Koelen spoke with Sebastian Dannenberg about these and other works. The result is a very lively conversation with the artist, shedding light on many facets and ideas within the body of work of the professor of fine arts, who now teaches at MSH Hamburg.

Some weeks ago, we already presented some excerpts in our Potpourri. Today, we’re sharing the entire conversation and hope that all art lovers whose interest in Sebastian Dannenberg was piqued at our summer festival will enjoy watching it.