Guillermo Mordillo framed in HALBE in the Ludwig Gallery

The surreal worlds of Guillermo Mordillo

Who doesn't know them, the wordless bulbous noses that know so much to tell through facial expressions, gestures and interaction with their surroundings. Guillermo Mordillo, born in Buenos Aires in 1932, has been portraying his spherical figures in a pointed way for decades, fanning out a colourful spectrum of themes in the process: People with their little peculiarities are lovingly staged, love with its errors and confusions, animals with human characteristics, football and golf as well as political motifs find their way into the often surreal worlds of the illustrator.

The endearing protagonists

Not superficial and yet quickly graspable, his amiable protagonists invite a smile and just as often reveal a deeper meaning in terms of content. In his pictures, he not only reconciles disparate things in a surreal way, but also lets his figures master the large and small obstacles of everyday life with ease.

The exhibition - The Very Optimistic Pessimist

Over 150 of his rarely shown originals are brought together in the exhibition, providing an insight into the work of this internationally active artist who has won numerous awards. The exhibition is complemented by high-quality prints and a comprehensive presentation of Mordillo's biography. Pictures from creative phases in Buenos Aires, Lima, New York, Paris and Monaco offer an overview of his diverse oeuvre. Early humorous drawings from his time as a commercial artist and illustrator testify to an early talent and ability for visual communication.

For the first time in 25 years, a comprehensive exhibition in a German museum presents a retrospective selection of his originals. In addition to a number of black-and-white drawings from his early years, the LUDWIGGALERIE is also home to a large number of contemporary colourful images. Jungle, lonely island, pirate ship and big city are waiting to be discovered!

A look behind the scenes and a funny picture series about the set-up can be found in the blog of the Ludwiggalerie. Used were CLASSIC magnetic frames, Wood 16 alder light, with PLEXIGLAS® UV100 (Gallery), Antireflex.