Contemporary artist George Condo confronted by old masters

(18 Nov 2016) LEAD IN
An exhibition in Berlin places work by American contemporary artist George Condo with that of 20th century masters such as Henri Matisse and Paul Cezanne.
The exhibition 'Confrontation' at the Museum Berrgruen in the German capital shows how art has changed over the last century, but also how some things stay constant.

STORY-LINE
This image of Marie-Hortense Fiquet, the model and wife of post-impressionist master Paul Cezanne was painted over 100 years ago.
Next to it hangs a contemporary version of the same image, this one called 'The return of Madame Cezanne' and painted by American artist George Condo in 2002.
Throughout this exhibition, called 'Confrontation' at the Museum Berrgruen in Berlin, the paintings by the 20th century masters are played against contemporary paintings by George Condo.
An abstract oil painting by Condo showing a busy landscape is hanging next to a cubist work by Paul Klee.
A bronze sculpture of a reclining woman by French artist Henri Matisse from 1906 is confronted by two brand new bronze sculptures of nude women standing on wine crates by Condo.
New York-based Condo has travelled to Berlin for the opening of the exhibition.
"It is a big honour to be in the same collection with all of these great masters," he says.
"And… But also quite exciting to see how their work evolved over the years, and how my work evolved over the years."
Condo was born in Concord, New Hampshire in 1957.
He is one of America's most influential living artists, having worked in Andy Warhol's factory, played in experimental music bands and created album covers for pop stars like Kanye West.
He is far removed from the post-impressionists of Paris at the turn of the 20th century, but his paintings are sometimes closely linked to the previous generation of artists.
"These artists were doing things with their work that I was doing with my work, but for completely different reasons;" he says.
"So that is what makes sense, I think, ultimately in this exhibition. That the reason for doing things were completely different."
The exhibition is curated by Udo Kittelmann, the director of the National gallery of Berlin.
He came up with the idea of comparing the work of Condo with masterpieces of the past.
He searched in to the vast archive of the National gallery to find works that would complement, or comment on, Condo's work
"I have always said that with ever stoke of a brush he (Condo) cements the tradition of achieving new things," says Kittelmann.
Condo was in Berlin to prepare for the exhibition when the news of Donald Trumps election victory reached him.
He says he was shocked but his role as an artist is not to comment directly on political event, rather trying to create a reality that he is happy with.
"The only thing that an artist should realise, and as an individual I think it brings you closer to the idea that your own truth that you have to be sure of. And that at least you can live with," he says.
The 'Confrontation' exhibition opens to the public on November 19 and runs through March 12, 2017.

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