Georg Baselitz's 2013 Exhibition at Thaddaeus Ropac Features Monumental Bronze Sculptures

In 2013, Georg Baselitz exhibited new bronze sculptures at Thaddaeus Ropac's Pantin gallery in the Paris suburbs. The show included works like 'Marokkaner' (2013), an eight-foot-tall piece derived from 2012 sketches on estate agency paper, where figures evolved into a rough-hewn form with three rings. Another sculpture, 'Louise Fuller' (2013), references the American dancer Loie Fuller, standing three-and-a-half meters high with similar rings and a black patination. Baselitz's process involved carving from wood before casting, emphasizing physical marks and contradictions, as he has expressed disdain for reproducibility while creating bronze editions. The artist's interview with the German magazine Art in 2012 revealed his contempt for multiculturalism, adding context to the mysterious title 'Marokkaner'. The sculptures evoke themes of fetishism, from totemic forms to BDSM imagery, yet center on Baselitz's own artistic touch. The exhibition was reviewed in ArtReview's November 2013 issue, highlighting the works' imposing and oppressive nature.