Lothar Hempel

Lothar Hempel (b. in Cologne, Germany, 1966) lives and works in Berlin. His multifaceted work includes sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, video and performance. He often develops his works from found and sometimes historical pictorial material, as well as from well-known figures of mythology, history, theater, film and pop culture.

Gargoyle

Lothar Hempel, Ein Lied Für 2 Stimmen, 2018, UV-Print, Aluminium and mixed media, 195 x 80 x 20 cm

Lothar Hempel - Gargoyle
10 February—14 April 2018
Opening: Saturday, 10 February 2018


Lothar Hempel's multifaceted work includes sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, video and performance. He often develops his works from found and sometimes historical pictorial material, as well as from well-known figures of mythology, history, theater, film and pop culture. Original quotes are deliberately reduced to extracts within a collage-like working method. Recontextualized in seemingly surreal contexts, this results in new associations and meanings. Several works are condensed within a stage-like installation, leading to a performative-pictorial narration.

The focus of the exhibition Gargoyle is the sculptural work Ein Lied für 2 Stimmen (English: A Song for 2 Voices). The double figure consists of the silhouette of a young man in a provocative pose, over which lies the torso of the fragile, charismatic Jane Birkin. The wide-open mouth of the boy can be interpreted in various ways: Even if a microphone with a stand is positioned in front of him, he could be yawning, screaming or actually singing. The same applies to Birkin, holding a microphone in her hand. Together, they form an unequal pair, and the tension that exists between the two of them appears to be rather erotically charged. The absence of any sound further reinforces the drama in the room and involves the viewer speculatively in the open question as to what song is actually being sung here by these two voices.

Text: Philipp Fürnkäs

Lothar Hempel, Gargoyle, Installation view, 2018, Italic Berlin

Lothar Hempel, Gargoyle, Installation view, 2018, Italic Berlin

Lothar Hempel, Untitled, 2018, Pencil and ink on paper, each 21 x 29,7 cm

Lothar Hempel, Untitled, 2018, Pencil and ink on paper, each 21 x 29,7 cm

Top: Gargoyle, 2018, Photo paper, 10 x 10 cm
Below: Lothar Hempel, Eyes, 2018, Photo paper, 32 x 32 cm

Lothar Hempel, Gargoyle, Installation view, 2018, Italic Berlin

Lothar Hempel, Gargoyle, 2018, Invitation Card, Italic Berlin

Lothar Hempel, Gargoyle, Invitation card, 2018, 400 g chromo sulphate cardboard matt, 21 x 29,7 cm

Songs For The Blind

Nessuno

Songs For The Blind

Regular price €29,00
Nessuno is a project by Lothar Hempel. Various songs are sung by the French soprano Alexandra Matloka.

Artist: Nessuno
Title: Songs For The Blind
Format: 2xLP / Digital
Label: ITALIC
Cat. No.: ITA121
Release date: 24 June 2022

Music & Lyrics: Lothar Hempel
Vocals: Alexandra Matloka
Mastering: Jörg Burger
Drums & Perkussion: Asya Yaghuriman
Transverse flute & Bass guitar: Ulrike Quasar
Choir on Grossstadttiere: Doreen Kutzke
Harmonica: Seth Betlaub
Tapes & effects: Emma Stern

ITA121 ℗ 2022 Italic Recordings © 2022 Italic Songs.

Feuer und Flamme

Nessuno - Feuer und Flamme
w/ Yasmin Müller and Margherita Belaief
Directed by Lothar Hempel,
4:18 min, 2022, Germany

MOSKITO

Nessuno - MOSKITO
Directed by Lothar Hempel,
3:34 min, 2022, Germany

  1. Poster for Isabella - Bubblegum on Italic Recordings

ISABELLA

BUBBLEGUM

Regular price €1,00

BUBBLEGUM is a project by Lothar Hempel and Isabella from Rimini.

Artist: BUBBLEGUM
Title: BUBBLEGUM
Format: DS
Label: ITALIC
Cat. No.: ITA130
Release date: 1 September 2023

Music & Lyrics: Lothar Hempel
Vocals: Isabella
Mastering: Jörg Burger

℗ 2023 Italic Recordings © 2023 Italic Songs