Peter Radelfinger «Everbody has got a blue finger». Drawings and Animations

The exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Bern presents three work groups which he has been producing since the year 2000.

In the series "Endlich komm ich in den Zwitscherraum" (since 2000, approx. 500 brush drawings), which shows different birds and their cages in different variations and metamorphoses, the artist explores ambiguous themes, such as safety and confinement, freedom and surveillance, communicating and networking, with humour and intelligence.

The swiftly implemented ballpoint-pen drawings in the series "Joke" (since 2003, approx. 1,200 sheets) address not only political questions related to communication and surveillance, but also the theme of communication "on a small scale", the encounter between man and woman. Thanks to the minimal animation of individual sheets in the digital work "Jokeanima" (since 2005), which is based on "Joke", the medium of the drawing is subtly updated.

The work group "Kissen" (since 2001, approx. 400 lead-pencil drawings) deals with a fundamental theme of the drawing, the fold, and revolves around a basic problem: How does the line form an object? The works also contain numerous references to historical images by artists from Dürer to Menzel.

By the simplest means Peter Radelfinger succeeds in creating drawings rich in allusions, which in an amusing and cryptic way interweave charged individual and political themes of relevance to society today. Present in all the works are the fundamental issues of the conditions of perception, and reflections on the essence of the drawing. Through his incisive use of both new digital technologies and traditional means, Radelfinger plays his part in the updating of the medium of drawing and thus makes an exciting contribution to contemporary art production.