Frédéric Bußmann, Director General of the Chemnitz Art Collections, and publisher Thomas Weckerle presented the first volume of Michael Morgner’s catalog raisonné to around 70 guests on Wednesday evening. The more than 400-page volume, now published by Hatje Cantz, presents sculptures and paintings by the artist, who was born in Chemnitz in 1942. With the help of numerous illustrations, one can clearly understand Morgner’s artistic career in the index, the change in his form and figurative language, the development of the lavage technique, which is regarded as moMorgner’s trademark. The whereabouts of many works were also documented.
The work on the directory took two years, made more difficult by the fact, according to Thomas Weckerle, that the artist was “somehow a slob” who had not included all of his works. The book was presented as part of the “Lines of Life” exhibition, which runs until October 31 in the art collections and shows essential aspects of Morgner’s art. In 2024, another volume of the catalog raisonné will be devoted to Morgner’s drawings. (mz)