DGA Faces #07 Xavier Scherenberg
With »Ofrenda Gráfica« (roughly translated as »Graphic Offering«), Xavier Scherenberg brings together the works of various international artists: many of them have roots in Oaxaca in central Mexico, while others come from Berlin, Switzerland, Poland, Japan, or Thailand.
The theme of the exhibition is »Día de los Muertos« (Day of the Dead), which has long been culturally significant in Mexico. The vernissage on Friday, October 17, at 6:00 p.m. marks the start of the 10-day exhibition.
About the artist
Many of the artists have known each other for more than twenty years from various collaborations in Oaxaca. Studios such as the Taller des Artes Plásticas Rufino Tamayo (Oaxaca), Bethanien Kunst Quartier (Berlin), and the Druckgraphik Atelier have brought them together repeatedly over the years at various times. Xavier has assembled works by Fulgencio Lazo, Abraham Torres, Josefa García, Enrique Flores, Ixrael Montes, Tomas Pineda, Enrique Gijón, Daniel Barrasa, Ivonne Kennedy, Rosendo Vega, Siegrid Wiese, Gilberto Delgado, Fernando Aceves, Vicente Mesinas, Alfonso Abad, Spencer Farías, Moisés Nava, Xavier Scherenberg (all Mexico), Eberhard Hartwig, Klaus Peter Vellguth, Débora Phillip, Stefan Tielscher, Macus Sternbauer, Herveline Cremmer, Artemis Chrysostomidou (all Berlin), Tanja Fent, Elke Delimnar (both Switzerland), Michal Tatarkiewicz, Sam Gardner (both Poland), Takai Sekixama (Japan), Kitikong Tilokwattanotai (Thailand).
About his exhibition
This exhibition has special significance for Xavier Scherenberg: his connection to Berlin’s art printing scene began in 2016 at the Druckgraphik Atelier. He developed an artistic and friendly relationship with the studio’s former operator, Eberhard Hartwig, which culminated in an exhibition of his work in Oaxaca (2017) and a joint exhibition in Berlin (2018), among other things. Nine years later, this exhibition brings things full circle for Xavier, while also marking the beginning of a new chapter.
Xavier sees the central motif of this exhibition, »Día de los Muertos«, as a tribute not only to those who have already passed away, but also to all the places that welcome us and allow us to create new memories. In this sense, all the friendships and collaborative works that have emerged along these shared paths and memories are also being honored.
What fascinates you about Printing?
For me, printmaking is a means of solving problems, surviving the pandemic, and building bridges of friendship. Philosophically speaking, it helps me to »be« in the world.
What inspires you in your creative process?
At a certain point in my life, mathematics and its connections to music had a major influence on my artistic work. Recently, my art has been inspired by themes such as migration, religious symbols, and various writings with a wide range of ideas.
Which artists do you find particularly interesting?
Francisco Toledo, Sergio Hernandez, Shinshaburo Takeda, Eberhard Hartwig, and German Expressionism.
In the series »DGA Faces« we gradually introduce the artists working here. In this way, we share the concentrated printing knowledge of the studio with you digitally too!