Torsten Slama's Posthumous Exhibition 'Die Vatermaschine' at Neuer Essener Kunstverein

Neuer Essener Kunstverein in Essen presents 'Die Vatermaschine' (The Father Machine), the first solo exhibition of Torsten Slama (1967–2023) since his death. The show features a representative selection of his works from 2007 to 2020, including the series 'Sexuality and Fear' (2007). Slama, a key but overlooked figure of the 1990s Cologne art scene, created drawings and paintings in a graphic style marked by symbolic oversaturation and intertextual references. His influences range from Pierre Klossowski and Carl Grossberg to MAD magazine and television detective series. The works explore dystopian landscapes, psychological depths, and the tension between technology and primal instincts. A recurring motif is the character 'Dr. Demiurg' (2007), a half double-agent, half villain version of Sigmund Freud. Slama's depictions of buildings—churches, offices, factories—function as psychological mini-melodramas, critiquing ideology and austerity. The exhibition runs at Neuer Essener Kunstverein, with details available on their website.