Rolf Sachs — Eingemachtes

In his first solo exhibition in Hamburg, which will open on June 23, 2023, at Galerie Watson, Rolf Sachs presents artworks that exclusively explore the theme of light in diverse ways. The Swiss-born artist takes a retrospective approach, spanning his entire artistic career in this field. The exhibition features both well-known artworks, such as the sculpture "Rita," and new, previously unseen pieces. Sachs utilizes various media for his 14 works, ranging from installations to light photography. He employs everyday objects in a characteristic playful and humorous manner, enriching them with a deeply emotional dimension. "Eingemachtes" (German for "preserves") cites the aesthetics of everyday, familiar objects and places them in a new, surprising context.

Simultaneously, this exhibition also marks the inauguration of the contemporary art gallery Galerie Watson, located at Milchstraße 2 - where in 1972, Rolf Sachs' father Gunter Sachs showcased the first European exhibition of works by Andy Warhol, just a few meters away.

Rolf Sachs combines various styles in his work, from minimalism to surrealism. His range of media is equally diverse, from photography, sculpture, painting and installation to interiors and stage design. The theme of light has always played an important role. With Rolf Sachs, the boundaries between art and design become blurred. In his work, he repeatedly questions existing opinions on the handling of materials, processes and everyday objects and gives them a new meaning. Through the skilful use of humour, his work seeks to evoke emotional, sensory responses and often encourages social interaction by accessing the collective consciousness. His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Cologne and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice. 

Sachs was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1955. After studying in the US and UK in the late 1980s, Sachs moved to London in 1994 to focus on his artistic practice. In 2018, he moved to Rome, where he opened a new studio in 2020.