Atelier Kubeis shows artistic worlds on 39 squares

The "Werkschau 2022" of the Kubeis Art Workshop on the Lorze is making a guest appearance at the Shedhalle in Zug. The Galerie Stans will then show further works afterwards.

Kubeis – the Cham studio for artistically gifted people with health impairments – succeeds again and again in surprising its audience. This is also the case now, thanks to the special concept of the ‘Werkschau 2022’.

It provides each of the 39 participants with a square area on the wooden floor, on which their works can be spread. In addition, a favourite work of each participant hangs on the walls. Instead of art mounted on partition walls, the audience in the hall is confronted with an artistic field on the floor, which requires a perspective that is unusual.

And there is much to discover: black and white and colourful paintings using different techniques, with mystical landscapes, portraits, photographs, prints and small imaginative objects. "These are current or recent works that express what is currently occupying artists in a multifaceted and in-depth way," says Lukas Meyer, business manager of the Kunststatt an der Lorze during a tour of the exhibition, which opened on Thursday, 20 October.

Each floor square provides an insight into the visual language of the respective individual. Ayana, for example, has marked her place in a very original way: the floor area only contains a mirror painted with light paint, on which the word “mein” (mine) has been written with a finger.

On the other hand, Andrea (AK) is presenting around 30 pictures, as well as her workbook with her drawings: "My hobby is photography: I afterwards select photos and create abstractions of them," she says, referring to the motif of Villettepark and its artistic interpretation. “When I’m drawing, I can express my personal mood. I like being at Kubeis, where I have many opportunities and am supported." Rebecca has translated a traumatic event into pictures.

A different view of art
According to Lukas Meyer, the concept was developed by the four group leaders, who are all artistically trained and active themselves. "The retrospective is not curated, we want to show the creative process at Kubeis." Group leader Adriana Zürcher had the following to say about the spatial concept: "With the objects lying on the ground, the audience has the opportunity to look down, thereby reducing the field of vision."

Art in the square: The 2022 retrospective of Kubeis has attracted many interested people
The artists have been invited to present themselves on 39 square areas of the floor.           Photos: Matthias Jurt

She points out that the selection the artists and the pictures was a guided process which, with its visual diversity, gave insights into the world of the studio. She thereby refers to the drawings of Gabriele Zentner, which reflect her everyday life and illustrate the developmental steps. "In the beginning, she painted many self-portraits, such as those here. Over time, however, she was able to focus on other things, and to even create three-dimensional ceramics. Her world has thereby become richer."

The goal at the Kubeisart workshop is to give everyone suggestions for artistic development. "We don't want to influence them thematically, because everyone should develop their own forms." This also triggers discourse, and Adriana Zürcher notes that the peaceful coexistence leads them to inspire each other.

"Enormous developments"
Lukas Meyer has been with Kubeis for around ten years. “People sometimes come here with little experience, but most of them want to be creative. I have experienced how some of them make an enormous development through the permanent stimulation."

He is particularly proud that, thanks to the mediation of group leader Andrea Röthlin from Kerns, many of the Kubeis artists will be able to show their works at the curated "Manchmal flüstert das Glück ganz leise (Happiness sometimes whispers very quietly" exhibition at the Galerie Stans after the Zug exhibition. For him, this is "a highlight and a great recognition".

The exhibition of the Kunstwerkstatt an der Lorze (Kubeis) in the Shedhalle Zug runs until 30 October:
Mon – Fri, 2 – 7 p.m.;
Sat/Sun, 2 – 5 p.m.;
Zug Art Night, 29 October, 5 – 11 p.m.
Kubeis at Galerie Stans, Dorfstrasse 11:
from 29 October to 11 December: Thu/Fri, 3 – 6 p.m., Sat/Sun, 1 – 4 p.m.