With “curated by juergen maurer – highly personal,” a special premiere awaits you at the galerie gugging. Look forward to paintings and drawings by Juergen Maurer, shown for the first time in a gallery. The exclusive selection by the popular Austrian actor features works by his personal companions, such as Peter Krawagna, alongside the Gugging Artists and their national and international colleagues.
Launched in 2017 with curated by johann garber, the “curated by” series has since featured exciting collaborations with Daniel Spoerri, Christopher Kane, and New York-based curator Sara Kay. This fall, the series enters its fifth round with curated by Juergen Maurer – highly personal. The series offers personalities the opportunity to curate their own exhibition featuring works by Gugging Artists, with the intention of creating new perspectives.
The idea for curated by juergen maurer was sparked in December 2023, after Maurer gave a holiday reading at galerie gugging and casually mentioned his interest in curating an exhibition himself. And so, the project was born. What no one expected at the time: Juergen Maurer, who had abandoned his graphic arts studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in the mid-1980s, never stopped creating art. As he puts it, he continued to confront “the blank page.”
When the galerie gugging team visited Maurer’s private studio in Klosterneuburg for the first time, they were astonished by the hidden world of artistic expression they discovered – an entire body of work that had been lying quietly beneath the surface, like a treasure waiting to be uncovered.
Maurer, known for his confident stage and screen presence, admits he’s more vulnerable when it comes to painting. “I don’t know why this part of my creative work feels so sensitive,” he says. “So, I’ve simply held onto everything I’ve drawn and painted over the years.” This makes it even more meaningful that he’s now chosen to share this deeply personal side of himself with us and with the public for the first time.
Nina Katschnig, director of galerie gugging, is thrilled about the collaboration: “The title curated by juergen maurer – highly personal is not about ego, but rather a revelation of the artist’s innermost self. Juergen Maurer is not only a true actor through and through, but also a master of dramaturgy. In his role as curator, he stages his artistic journey with great intimacy, revealing how his understanding of visual art has evolved and who has influenced him along the way.” Maurer has long admired the Gugging Artists, especially their unfiltered and instinctive approach to creating.
As the selection of Gugging works came together, a vision quickly emerged: to juxtapose Maurer’s own art with that of his personal artistic companions, alongside works by the Gugging artists and other national and international peers. The result is a compelling visual dialogue, a creative interplay: curated by juergen maurer – highly personal.
Visitors can expect exciting combinations, such as Maurer’s own pieces shown alongside the finger paintings of French Art Brut artist Michel Nedjar. The woodcuts of Herbert Brunner, who played the role of teacher, mentor, and father figure to Maurer, will be exhibited together with works by Swiss artist François Burland. The paintings of Carinthian artist Peter Krawagna, who has influenced Maurer since his youth, are paired with those of Gugging ArtistHelmut Hladisch. As Maurer aptly puts it, both artists “dance with reality in their own unique way,” and together they form a harmonious duo.
A special section of the exhibition will be dedicated to technology and motion, reflecting Maurer’s long-standing fascination with motorbikes and the sense of freedom they represent. “Autonomy and the ability to quickly move forward on my own terms have always brought me joy and peace of mind,” says the actor, who also co-owns an auto repair shop.
Maurer shares this passion with several Gugging Artists, including Laila Bachtiar, Günther Schützenhöfer, Leonard Fink, and Jürgen Tauscher, whose works will also be on display. Longtime friend and collaborator David Staretz will likewise be featured. Known for his nuanced journalism in Autorevue, Staretz also creates delicate mechanical sculptures that defy gravity, some of which will be shown alongside other works.
There’s no doubt: curated by juergen maurer – highly personal is one of this autumn’s artistic highlights. Carefully and passionately crafted down to the smallest detail, the exhibition bears the unmistakable personal touch of its curator.
We warmly invite you to join us for the opening night at galerie gugging, in the presence of the artist, curator, and actor Juergen Maurer, as well as the Gugging Artists.
