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Merlin James's 'Signal Box' Exhibition at Kunste-Werle Berlin Explores Painting's Contemporary Dilemmas

exhibition · 2026-04-22

The exhibition titled 'Signal Box' by Merlin James was showcased at Kunste-Werle in Berlin from July 19 to November 10, 2013. This collection of paintings delves into the theme of representation within contemporary art, drawing a parallel between his artwork and railway signal boxes, prompting a shift in viewers' visual perception. Featured subjects include rural landscapes such as 'Bird, Branch, House' (2010) and 'Sheep' (2007), intimate close-ups like 'Sex (White)' (2004), and cinematic nods in 'Cinema' (2005/13). While most works are small, 'Building on a Cliff' (2011) stands out at nearly a meter wide. Unlike Thomas Nozkowski's abstract style, James steers clear of street scenes and Pop art, emphasizing nature and the human form, echoing John Ruskin's principles of honoring nature in art.

Key facts

  • Merlin James's exhibition 'Signal Box' was held at Kunste-Werle in Berlin from July 19 to November 10, 2013.
  • The title 'Signal Box' serves as a metaphor for how James's paintings switch viewers between different visual thinking modes.
  • James's paintings include subjects like rural scenes, erotic close-ups, and references to cinema, with most being small-scale.
  • His work 'Building on a Cliff' (2011) is nearly a meter wide, an exception to his typically compact pieces.
  • Julian Bell's 1999 book discusses the contemporary consensus that painting has become problematic and self-consciously skeptical.
  • James's paintings often have identifiable figurative references, contrasting with Thomas Nozkowski's more abstract, untitled works.
  • John Ruskin's theory, cited in the context of defending Turner, suggests painters should respect nature over invention.
  • James avoids depicting street scenes, Impressionist cityscapes, and Pop art industrial products in his oeuvre.

Entities

Artists

  • Merlin James
  • Julian Bell
  • Thomas Nozkowski
  • John Ruskin
  • Turner
  • Poussin

Institutions

  • Kunste-Werle
  • artcritical

Locations

  • Berlin
  • Germany

Sources