Upstream Focus: Dennis Rudolph

UPSTRE AM FOCUS March 3 — 14

dennis rudolph

UPSTREAM FOCUS Upstream Gallery presents a new series of Upstream Focus. In this series of short exhibitions in our private viewing space, we highlight one (series of) work by one of our artists, both online as well as offline.

From March 3 - 14 we present new paintings by Dennis Rudolph, simultaneously with the opening of his large-scale public work on the tower of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam.

Within his most recent work, the Berlin based multimedia artist Dennis Rudolph combines a focus on painting with virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR). This line of work deals with an ideology of failed utopian vision and apocalypse in global history, while drawing a relationship with our contemporary image culture.

Within his most recent work, the Berlin based multimedia artist combines a focus on painting with virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR). Rudolph began using the virtual reality software Google TiltBrush as a medium in 2017 as he was fascinated by the immateriality of the process. The resulting artwork is present and absent at the same time. The medium also allows Rudolph to paint three dimensionally, allowing for movement and special effects to, in turn, feedback to the oil paintings we see at first glance. Refreshingly, painting in virtual reality has changed the way Rudolph paints ‘in real life’, creating an exchange between reality and virtual reality.

Dennis R ARTIFICIAL_GODS Oil on canva 80 x 1

Rudolph S_Eurydike_3, 2020 as + AR app 100 cm

"[...] Anyone who wants to see the latest development in painting - perhaps the greatest painterly innovation since the paint tube - should now visit Upstream Gallery. German multimedia artist Dennis Rudolph has used the virtual reality software Google TiltBrush for his exhibition Fallen Angels. The result: threedimensional painting. You can only view it with an iPad equipped with a special app.

Grab the iPad and the paint will pop off the canvas. The angels change into dynamic figures and the light shines over the edge of the canvas, straight into the gallery.

The paradox is that the limitation of the stretcher frame is lifted and the image enriched, but that it can only be seen through a screen. And it must be said: this changes the view on painting. Literally even, because once you have seen the virtual layer, you can no longer see the flat, traditional images without a mental echo of the three-dimensional addition.[...]”

Edo Dijksterhuis in Het Parool on Dennis Rudolph’s solo show Fallen Angels in 2019

Dennis R ARTIFICIAL_GODS Oil on canva 80 x 1

Rudolph S_Eurydike_2, 2020 as + AR app 100 cm

from the Oude Ker

dennis rudolph oudekerk With the closing of the doors by Covid-19 and the restoration of the tower, we realized that the outside of the church is the only place where people can still see something new and old. We therefore asked the Berlin artist Dennis Rudolph to create a new work for the outside of the church tower - The 5 Minute Apocalypse - as a comforting image that allows our online and offline world to merge for a few minutes.

The painting on the tower comes to life via your phone or tablet.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Download the app from the Apple App Store (the Android app will be available soon) Scan the painting on the tower with your phone View the augmented reality artwork The 5 Minute Apocalypse by Dennis Rudolph.

THE 5 MINUTE APOCALYPSE Irritated by the fact that the Oudekerkstoren is in public possession as part of a religious building, Rudolph makes a connection in The 5 minute Apocalypse with the Christian background of the European flag. The story of John’s New Testament revelations served as the basis for the design; a circle of stars.

Both are about the meeting between religion and politics. For Rudolph, a vision mirrors the fact of virtual reality, only you can see it, it is not “real”, but the image does appear in reality.

Virtual reality avant la lettre.

Rudolph brings together tradition and innovation in his work by mixing a classical genre such as painting with new media such as virtual and socalled “supplemented” reality. The images are not literal additions to reality, but enter into a relationship.

rk press release

FURTHER READING Article in The Volkskrant about ‘5 Minute Apocalypse’ at Oude Kerk Amsterdam. Here.

Interview with Dennis Rudolph about his show Fallen Angels at Upstream Gallery in 2019 here.

Philipp Kleinmichel, The Phantasm Of Total Digital Presence, 2018. Here.

Rudolph Painting “Messengers of the Ai 8” in Google TiltBrush. Recorded live in one session in mixed reality. Video here.

Kloveniersburgwal 95 1011 KB Amsterdam t. +31 (0)20 4284284 e. info@upstreamgallery.nl