Nicole Wermers' Functional Sculptures and Found Objects at Galleria S.A.L.E.S.

German artist Nicole Wermers presents new sculptures at Galleria S.A.L.E.S. that challenge Minimalist expectations through functional objects. The exhibition features four 'Abwasch Skulpturen #5 – #8' (2013), each consisting of kitchenware arranged inside modified dishwasher baskets. These works reference Renaissance still-life painting but invert the format by using three-dimensional objects containing animal forms like ceramic flamingos and lobsters. Wermers draws from the objet trouvé tradition initiated by Picasso, with each piece bearing a history of prior use—knives, mezzalunas, and fine china designed for specific dishes. In the gallery's backroom project space, the installation 'Restaurant' comprises 51 unused white wardrobe hooks covered with layers of wall paint, creating painterly warmth. The contrast between used kitchenware and unused hooks introduces a personal dimension to the exhibition. Wermers' sculptures incorporate geometric shapes like ellipses, continuing her exploration of forms over the past decade. The works were conceived during her year-long stay at Villa Massimo in Rome. This exhibition represents not a radical shift but a subtle expansion of her artistic vocabulary, blending formal concerns with intimate, human interventions.