Constantin Nitsche's 'Les mains' Exhibition Arrives at Xavier Hufkens
The second solo exhibition of Constantin Nitsche at Xavier Hufkens, named ‘Les mains,’ draws inspiration from a letter by Franz Kafka to Milena Jesenská, where he expresses, ‘I can’t hold enough of you in my hands.’ This sentiment resonates with Nitsche, reflecting the painting process where every artwork strives for an unattainable essence. Working in his studio in Marseille, he constructs each piece through a method of layering, revising, and subtracting. Previous iterations often linger as faint remnants beneath the final layer, with initial concepts evolving into something new. Nitsche articulates the joy of nearing completion, only to watch the image escape like grains of sand slipping through his fingers.
Key facts
- Constantin Nitsche will open his second solo exhibition at Xavier Hufkens.
- The exhibition is titled 'Les mains.'
- The title references a Franz Kafka letter to Milena Jesenská.
- The quote is 'I can't hold enough of you in my hands.'
- Nitsche sees the sentence as echoing the experience of painting.
- The works were developed in his studio in Marseille.
- The creative process involves layering, revision, and subtraction.
- Earlier states of the paintings often survive as ghostly traces.
Entities
Artists
- Constantin Nitsche
- Franz Kafka
- Milena Jesenská
Institutions
Locations
- Marseille
- France