Lothar Baumgarten
Feuilleton Klimax, 1998/99

Artist
Lothar Baumgarten

Title
Feuilleton Klimax

Year of creation
1998/99

Technique and dimensions
Emulsion paint on wall (2 parts), 9 x 3574 cm, 9 x 3521 cm

Year of acquisition
2000

"Feuilleton Klimax" is an in situ work that Lothar Baumgarten designed for two spatial compartments in the Hamburger Bahnhof building, the transitions to the east and west wings.

Individual words are applied directly to the wall in the west wing of the building in yellow and black emulsion paint. Green and black paint were used in the parallel work in the east wing. In a different way than Jenny Holzer or Lawrence Weiner, Lothar Baumgarten makes language the theme of his work.

It depicts words that the artist has picked up from newspapers over the years. One word sequence is: "on the other hand, on the other hand, in any case, in no way at all so favorable sufficient, as it were, in the midst of this, for example, in view of this, regarding nevertheless again therefore almost the same, undoubtedly, largely, so to speak, however, although such, however, occasionally".

The other: "but in the end always somehow during this time and again already ostensibly pretty much the same as opposed to predominantly now just as little but in this way usual after all just for free and or however".

The words, removed from the explanatory context of their use, appear at a uniform height, slightly below eye level, as a continuous band that the visitor involuntarily passes by, deciphering and searching for meaning. The writing on the wall is, so to speak, a sign that derives its explosiveness from the isolation of the words and their material, colorful presentation on the white walls of a museum.

Michael Leilach