Michael Sailstorfer's AIR ELECTRIC at CARBON 12

Michael Sailstorfer's fourth solo exhibition with CARBON 12, AIR ELECTRIC, presents three series exploring energy in its various forms. The C-Batterie series pays homage to Joseph Beuys' Capri-Batterie (1985), which used a lemon as a power source. Sailstorfer created wax models of the original battery, placed them in beehives for bees to alter, then cast them in bronze, upsetting Beuys' balance and allegorizing societal inequality. Another set of bronze casts from lightbulbs hangs from the ceiling. The AIR ELECTRIC series uses a copper mesh, silver electrolyte, and electric current to create abstract landscapes on canvas. The exhibition also includes Tank 11 (2024), an empty Audi fuel tank mounted on the wall, emitting a breathing sound. The works connect through materials: bronze is over 60% copper, linking the series. Sailstorfer emphasizes chance and ecological concern, as bronze is recyclable with minimal quality loss.