Jakob Gasteier: Bilder 1985-1990

Jakob Gasteiger's distinctive feature is his squeegee paintings! With homemade cardboard squeegees, the colours are dragged across the canvases and leave traces.
Jakob Gasteiger started using this technique in 1985! Until then, his work was dominated by the exploration of the theme of collage. By 1990, several large-format works had been created using this squeegee technique for the first time: all oil on canvas. A technique that demanded a lot of the artist, especially because of the drying time. These very early works are thus evidence of a development that continues to this day; today, the colour traces are predominantly drawn in acrylic.
The intention of the bechter kastowsky galerie is now to show these early works as a whole, to present them together. For only three of the original works are with collectors, the artist has kept the rest for himself. This is the first time that these early works have been shown as a series, and after Jakob Gasteiger's great success with his solo exhibition at the Albertina in 2021, the exhibition "BILDER 1985-1990" now shows the beginnings of his significant painting and technique.
In 1985-1990 there is nothing to suggest the colourfulness of the present time; in this period the artworks are black, calm and not very gestural in the movement of the squeegee, almost contemplative and above all - extremely strong in expression. A meditative exhibition that has almost Buddhist features.
With this exhibition, Jakob Gasteiger receives a retrospective that focuses on the years 1985 - 1990 and illuminates an aspect of his entire oeuvre more precisely and in series for the first time: presented like a museum.