Colourful, loud, catchy and subtle

The present monograph WORK, LIVE, BALANCE focuses on artistic works by David Renggli from 2006 until today – with no claim to the completeness of a list of works, but most certainly with ­respect for the striking heterogeneity inherent to the oeuvre of the Swiss artist and musician. It ­offers a broad overview of the oeuvre and provides informative impres­sions of the slyly dandy-like ­­self-stagings of the artist. Should his works be under­stood merely as odes to hedonism? Not at all! With his works, David Renggli revives highly ­diverse clichés of adamant desire and idyllic ­imaginings, only to confront them in a subtle, ­sensitive manner with their own deconstructions. With a vigorous wink of the eyes, he adopts an ­ironical perspective with regard to ideals of beauty and the cult of physical allure, not hesitating to critique the urge to self-optimisation and the ­egocentricity of self-infatuation. As a Neo-­Dadaist, David Renggli remains unswervingly devoted to the free play of art – and also of music: »My favorite instrument? Snare drum.«

Exhibition:
Villa Merkel Galerie der Stadt Esslingen, 8/3 – 12/7/2020