Anne Loch's Monumental Art Takes Center Stage in Bern

In a striking showcase at the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, German artist Anne Loch presents an impressive collection of nearly 80 artworks, exploring the extraordinary in the ordinary. The exhibition, titled Painting: So what?, runs until September 20, 2026, and offers a rare glimpse into Loch's extensive portfolio, which has largely been overlooked for decades.

Loch's art, characterized by oversized representations of familiar subjects like flowers, sheep, and mountains, invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions. With flower paintings soaring nearly two meters and a flock of sheep extending over three and a half meters, Loch transforms the mundane into the monumental. The exhibition, curated by Amélie Joller, marks only her second major solo presentation in Switzerland since her career began in the vibrant Cologne art scene of the 1980s.

Throughout her four-decade career, Loch has created approximately 1,400 pieces, including paintings, drawings, and video works. Known for her cool precision, she eschews the neo-expressionist trends of her contemporaries, opting instead for a meticulous approach. This is evident in her process, where she enlarges photographic sources to challenge the viewer's understanding of reality and figuration. As one approaches her works, initial clarity dissolves into abstract forms, creating an intriguing interplay between perception and interpretation.

Loch's intent is clear: she avoids social commentary and autobiographical narratives, focusing instead on color, space, and the relationships within her compositions. The exhibition's title poses a provocative question about the nature of viewing art itself, emphasizing that sometimes, a flower is simply a flower, and a raven is just a raven. In her isolation from the art world, Loch has continued to produce work that now finds its rightful audience at Zentrum Paul Klee, where her oversized creations finally receive the attention they merit.

Source: www.designboom.com