Stefan Rinck 

Endemic Creatures

20.03.21 – 20.06.21

CCA Andratx is proud to present its second exhibition with Stefan Rinck. After "Pilgrimage to Kashyyyk" in 2017, “Endemic Creatures” is composed of new series created in and specifically for the CCA Andatx.  

“Endemic Creatures” will take us on a journey through Rinck's personal imaginary. Strolling through medieval-like stone-carved sculptures, one can easily find himself embodying an archaeologist just about to decipher a mystery kept secret for centuries. However, our intuition will make us suspicious, sensing that behind these enigmatic figures complexity is hiding.

On a semiotic level, Rinck's works are born where symbols are at ease. Because of his deep knowledge in the history of sculpture and philosophy, he becomes a juggler of symbols, able to convey deeper concepts just by a swift innuendo. In his published catalogue, Bazon Brock names him "Master Stefan", probably not only for his talented sculpting skills, but surely for the originality of his art, being able to communicate deeply complex messages just as simply and clearly as the Medieval masters did.

Facing the installation, the first thing we notice is that most of the sculptures represent animals. Rinck is aware of our ease to engage with a message when it’s performed by an animal (just think of Disney movies). Personifying the animal, we attribute a human property, an identity trait, which sometimes is shared between different cultures and in different chronologies; as a kind of universal symbolism. Being able to read abstract concepts, either by association or by tradition, Rinck takes us a step further by introducing in the same work contradictory symbols. To externalize its meaning will entail an inner reading by the observer from his own experience. The sculpture personifies that Jester who tells us a hard truth "A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart"[1].

By using an extensive imaginary, boarding from art, literature, philosophy and cinema, Rinck re-reads these images within a contemporary approach. His works are able to combine antagonistic concepts in a perfect balance: deep fears seen from the most serene courage, evil and goodness at the same glance, the indiscernible mixture of fiction and reality; all these concepts seen through a contemporary kaleidoscope.

[1] “Faust” (1808); Johann Wolfgang von Goethe