Reiner Ruthenbeck

Reiner Ruthenbeck (b. 1937 in Germany) is an orchestrator of geometric form, noted for his ability to transform space using unconventional materials such as crumpled paper or swathes of fabric. Ruthenbeck’s work subverts the familiar, using minimalist objects and simple everyday materials to explore architecture, iconology, perception and, in later works, sound. In 2006, Ruthenbeck wrote: “We are moving towards immaterial art, yet we only approach it in small steps.” From 1968 to 1972, he created several piles and cones made of ash, slag and paper. Later, he would present utilitarian objects like chairs, tables and a suitcase, stripped of their function and thus exaggerating the objects’ pure shapes. The exhibition brought together, for the first time in the UK, many of these key moments in the artist’s career and included sculpture, objects and conceptual works.