Schöne Zeit (“A good time”) – exposition of Tobias Schulenburg

This is an exhibition of fine drawings (hopefully). One part is black and white, one part in color. The black and white works show the artist's get-togethers with artistic friends. Tobias Schulenburg regularly meets up with them to draw, depicting the situations that arise. He uses black ink fineliners, conscientiously, even a little mischievously, above all without the possibility of correction. These motifs are joined by interiors of places of work and residence. Together they create the image of an unexcited, constant everyday artistic life.

The other part of the exhibition consists of color works, works rich in detail, created with Polychromos color pencils. They have a hidden object-like quality, at least that is what viewers have often said. The works are colorful and small-scale, and they show landscapes and places that Tobias Schulenburg has encountered on his walks: a pedestrian walkway on a federal highway bridge, a grassy noise protection hill, a rainwater tank of the public utility company, seen through a wire mesh fence. Most of these scenes feature fantasy figures: a dog dragon and its tamer, fur-covered butterflies, active senior citizens (a little joke), a pack of shoes. From time to time, the artist himself also appears, dressed more gently and beautifully than he has usually dared to be in public. In the end, the works are about the search for a time that is perceived as beautiful. Here it is.

Tobias Schulenburg (*1987) draws and writes and lives in Cologne, Germany. He has been drawing for as long as he can remember. Since 2018 he studies at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.