N.W. - 23/24 // Beat Zoderer

BEAT ZODERER | A PLAYFUL AND HARMONIOUS RESPONSE TO CHAOS

Text by Flor Linckens for GalleryViewer, 19.11.2024

What do you do when your gallery is rocked by an explosion, captures international headlines, and is left in a state of shattered glass and chaos? At MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk, resilience was the answer. With a subtle nod to recent events, the gallery now presents a solo exhibition by Swiss artist Beat Zoderer, whose work is all about creating order from chaos. The exhibition 'N.W. - 23/24' features a surprising blend of colour, structure and playfulness — art that not only captivates the eye but also embodies a deeper essence, serving as a testament to resilience.

The break-in at MPV Gallery began with an explosion that blew the door off its hinges, causing extensive damage to the building and its surroundings — a story that was picked up by The Guardian, BBC, People Magazine, CBS News and even Fox News. The thieves attempted to steal four silkscreens from Andy Warhol’s "Reigning Queens" series but abandoned two works along the way when they didn’t fit in their car. The heist was strikingly amateurish, leaving all four pieces severely damaged and almost unsellable. A tragic loss, but MPV Gallery remains undeterred, moving forward with renewed determination.

With this exhibition, MPV Gallery shines a spotlight on a prominent figure from the Swiss art scene. Although Beat Zoderer has garnered international acclaim with his unique interpretation of geometric abstraction — featuring solo exhibitions at Museum Voorlinden, Kunsthalle Winterthur and Haus Konstruktiv — this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience his work more close to home. Zoderer’s practice explores the relationship between art and everyday life, encouraging viewers to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of the world around us.

The artist is known for his intuitive approach and his ability to transform everyday materials into captivating artworks. PVC, adhesive tape, labels, foam, metal strips, elastic bands and construction panels serve as the building blocks for his intricate creations — materials you’re more likely to find in a hardware store or stationery shop than in a gallery. Zoderer’s works also reflect on the act of creation itself: the original materials remain visible and recognisable, offering viewers an insight into the artistic decisions behind each piece.

Zoderer draws inspiration from the formal visual language of geometric abstraction and constructivist traditions, but breaks free from the rigid and theoretical constraints that often define these art forms. Instead, he embraces chance and human imperfections, making his work significantly less rigid, perfectionistic or dogmatic. While his pieces may initially appear methodical and mathematically precise, a closer look reveals spontaneous structures full of imperfections, playfulness and a distinctly human touch. This delicate balance between order and chaos reflects Zoderer’s fascination with the tension between control and randomness, resulting in intriguing, ambiguous works characterised by movement, dynamism and an ongoing dialogue between structure and spontaneity.

Zoderer’s artistic process begins with materials that inspire him, often for their colour, texture or form. He then experiments, combining these materials into cohesive works without a fully premeditated plan. The concept and final shape emerge organically during the act of creation, charging each piece with an inherent unpredictability. Deliberately, Zoderer leaves room for imperfections and “flaws,” from the notion that highlighting a mistake can transform it into something more conceptual. This is not a lack of precision but a conscious choice that imbues his work with an internal logic and makes it approachable and human. The artist invites viewers to deconstruct the systems and structures in his works, discovering how order and chaos, control and chance can come together in harmonious unity.

Beat Zoderer was born in Zurich in 1955. In the 1970s, he trained as an architectural draftsman and gained experience at several architectural firms, where he honed his sense of structure, spatial awareness and materiality. In 1979, he transitioned to autonomous art, blending the precision of architecture with the intuitive freedom of artistic expression. His works are featured in prestigious collections, including Museum Voorlinden, Kunsthaus Zürich, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Deutsche Bank, Sammlung Bundestag, the UBS Art Collection and Haus Konstruktiv.

This exhibition at MPV Gallery not only marks the gallery’s reopening with renewed energy but also demonstrates how art can be an enduring source of inspiration, even — or especially — in challenging times.