REITER galleries

Thomas Sommer

»Im Kreis« 2020 (polyptych), oil on canvas, 220 x 220 cm
»Im Kreis« 2020 (polyptych), oil on canvas, 220 x 220 cm
»Ort leer von Macht« 2016, oil on canvas, 100 x 80cm
»Ort leer von Macht« 2016, oil on canvas, 100 x 80cm
»Schwachstelle« 2016, oil on canvas, 140 x 100 cm
»Schwachstelle« 2016, oil on canvas, 140 x 100 cm
»Balmeregg« 2021 (polyptych), oil on canvas, 220 x 220 cm
»Balmeregg« 2021 (polyptych), oil on canvas, 220 x 220 cm
»Turmbau« 2016, oil on canvas, 70 x 100 cm
»Turmbau« 2016, oil on canvas, 70 x 100 cm
»Anthropozän« 2015, oil on canvas, 140 x 100 cm
»Anthropozän« 2015, oil on canvas, 140 x 100 cm
»Retrograde Amnesie« 2020 (polyptych), oil on canvas, 220 x 220 cm
»Retrograde Amnesie« 2020 (polyptych), oil on canvas, 220 x 220 cm
»Generator« 2015, oil on canvas, 130 x 150 cm
»Generator« 2015, oil on canvas, 130 x 150 cm
»Freunde« 2015, Öl auf Leinwand, 130 x 150 cm
»Freunde« 2015, Öl auf Leinwand, 130 x 150 cm
»Ackerland« 2015, oil on canvas, 120 x 164 cm
»Ackerland« 2015, oil on canvas, 120 x 164 cm
»Schlacht um die Leipziger Tieflandsbucht« 2015, oil on canvas, 120 x 164 cm
»Schlacht um die Leipziger Tieflandsbucht« 2015, oil on canvas, 120 x 164 cm
exhibition view »Vertraut uns!« R E I T E R | Leipzig
exhibition view »Vertraut uns!« R E I T E R | Leipzig
»C 38« 2013, object, 30 x 24 x 15 cm
»C 38« 2013, object, 30 x 24 x 15 cm
»Anspruch auf Glück« 2015, oil on canvas, 130 x 150 cm
»Anspruch auf Glück« 2015, oil on canvas, 130 x 150 cm
»Damit es brennt« 2014, oil on canvas, 70 x 80 cm
»Damit es brennt« 2014, oil on canvas, 70 x 80 cm
»Polarexpedition« 2013, oil on canvas, 100 x 150 cm
»Polarexpedition« 2013, oil on canvas, 100 x 150 cm
»Wo es ist« 2012, oil on canvas, 140 x 190 cm
»Wo es ist« 2012, oil on canvas, 140 x 190 cm
»Die Freuden der Konformität« 2012, oil on canvas, 90 x 110 cm
»Die Freuden der Konformität« 2012, oil on canvas, 90 x 110 cm
»C 41« 2013, object, 30 x 24 x 15 cm
»C 41« 2013, object, 30 x 24 x 15 cm

Painting, collage, graphics and assemblage – Sommer masters the balancing act between high standards and accessibility.
The elaborate segments of landscapes are characterized by the longing for a perfect picture. Other works portray images with overburdening quotations and abundance of design elements. The collections of different pieces produce a dynamic chaos of Bockwurst and Batman, angels and ice-cream cones. The erratic accumulation of things also symbolizes the objects of an ideal world presented through different techniques, forms and colours on canvas. The work reflects the authentic happenings in our present time, which in a broad sense relates to the longing for order and distance.
In his work „Triumph der Mineure“, Sommer paints clearly defined, deep and colourful landscapes and horizons, where the Olympian people are subjected to oversize elements of the earth. The narrative in the works produced on wide canvases tells us a story about the wondering creatures.
The large series of cloud paintings also resemble the recent works of art, through the concrete appearance of the nature. However, they are equally fictional developments on canvas as they are created through pure imagination. Like miniature versions of the pre-renaissance and monastery painting, the barren landscapes are stylized and enhanced in terms of their colour and structure. Under the great sky and wide landscapes, the figure is tiny and subdued. The proportions, massive landscape formations and the colouring of the turbulent sky express a resonating and ominous element in the work.
Sommer's drawings are created using a combination of wall and facade paints, lacquer, pen, and ink. Which are then scratched, drawn and glued to offset printing plates. The basis of the printing plates relates to motifs seen in earlier works from a catalog production. Here, it can be experienced as counter-work against one's own through its friction and self-inquiry that is constantly revising and updating itself.

Sommer has used artistic recycling as the principle objective for his object boxes. Drawings are transformed into three-dimensional forms that measure 30 x 64.5 x 15cm; they are glazed, oak-wooded corner boxes that are archive numbered and represented in 50 unique assemblages.
What happens in these miniature cabinets is the imitation of contrasting perceptions. The world is divided in to separate components that are reassembled and placed. The first set of boxes follow the simple principles of display as much as possible. Whereas, in the earlier boxes the arrangements were much more controlled. Now the figurative elements of painterly, graphic details are combined with paper and transparent materials that are folded, layered and interlocked. The path leads the viewer from the representational presentation of the work into the deep multi-surfaced space.

04-29-2022 – 06-11-2022 | R E I T E R Berlin prospect

Thomas Sommer

DA IST NUR ZUKUNFT

»DA IST NUR ZUKUNFT« Installation view, REITER | Berlin
»DA IST NUR ZUKUNFT« Installation view, REITER | Berlin
04-29-2022 – 06-11-2022 | R E I T E R Berlin prospect

Thomas Sommer

DA IST NUR ZUKUNFT

Thomas Sommer paints sublime landscapes inspired the psychological or physical affect of nature’s grandeur. His work deliberately references the Romantic tradition of landscape paintings, borrowing from the colour…

04-28-2020 – 07-11-2020 | R E I T E R Leipzig

Hans AichingerClemens TremmelCarsten GoeringChristian HolzeSebastian NeebSebastian SchraderThomas SommerJames NizamClaus Georg Stabe

everchanging group show

»away from keyboard«
»away from keyboard«
04-28-2020 – 07-11-2020 | R E I T E R Leipzig

Hans AichingerClemens TremmelCarsten GoeringChristian HolzeSebastian NeebSebastian SchraderThomas SommerJames NizamClaus Georg Stabe

everchanging group show

Our group show »AFK« (Away From Keyboard) marks the time when art returns from virtual to physical space. It is an ever-changing exhibition with a varying and evolving artist participation. In this way, different…

06-22-2017 – 08-06-2017 | R E I T E R Leipzig Plus

Thomas Sommer

Aus Liebe

exhibition view »Aus Liebe« REITER | Leipzig plus
exhibition view »Aus Liebe« REITER | Leipzig plus
06-22-2017 – 08-06-2017 | R E I T E R Leipzig Plus

Thomas Sommer

Aus Liebe


01-14-2017 – 04-01-2017 | R E I T E R Leipzig

Hans AichingerMary BauermeisterManuele CeruttiPhilipp FürhoferSteffen JunghansPhilipp ModersohnSebastian NeebNik NowakSebastian SchraderThomas SommerWanda StolleElisa StrozykMarie von Heyl

Fountain of Youth

exhibition view »Fountain of Youth« REITER | Leipzig
exhibition view »Fountain of Youth« REITER | Leipzig
01-14-2017 – 04-01-2017 | R E I T E R Leipzig

Hans AichingerMary BauermeisterManuele CeruttiPhilipp FürhoferSteffen JunghansPhilipp ModersohnSebastian NeebNik NowakSebastian SchraderThomas SommerWanda StolleElisa StrozykMarie von Heyl

Fountain of Youth

2017 is the 100th anniversary of Marcel Duchamp’s coup, a piece of sanitary ware presented as a work of art. This early method of conceptual art had encouraged other artists to explore this theme which resulted in an…

CV

1967
born in Torgau
1992 - 1999
studies under supervision of Prof. Arno Rink und Prof. Sighard Gille at the Academy of Visual Arts. Leipzig
1999 - 2001
post-graduate studies under supervision of Prof. Sighard Gille
Thomas Sommer lives and works in Mockritz near Torgau.

publications

2012
»Sonnenschein« catalogue
2006
»Thomas Sommer« exhibition catalogue »Die Erde ist eine Scheibe in der Mitte des Universums« maerzgalerie. Leipzig (available at maerzgalerie)
2005
»Die Zwölfte« catalogue of 12. Leipziger Jahresausstellung. Leipzig
2003
Deutsche Bundesbank. catalogue. Frankfurt am Main
2000
»Klasse Gille« catalogue. Galerie Timm Gierig. Frankfurt am Main

exhibitions

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
»Aus Liebe« REITER | Leipzig
2016
»Schluss mit lustig« maerzgalerie. Berlin
2014
»Trust us!« with Sebastian Neeb. maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2013
»Pleasures of conformity« maerzgalerie. Berlin (C)
2011
»Triumph der Mineure« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2010
»Punkt 9 am Provisorium« maerzgalerie. Berlin
2009
»Das Ganze steuert der Blitz« galerie maurer. Frankfurt am Main
2008
»Archiv C1-C14« maerzgalerie. Leipzig (C)
2006
»Die Erde ist eine Scheibe in der Mitte des Universums« maerzgalerie. Leipzig (C)
2004
»Thomas Sommer« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2003
Deutsche Bundesbank. Frankfurt am Main (C)
2001
post-graduate exhibition Academy of Visual Arts. Leipzig
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020
»AFK« REITER | Leipzig
2017
»Fountain of Youth« R E I T E R. Leipzig
2016
»paint euphoria« maerzgalerie, Leipzig
2015
»Leipzig Unfolding« Lloyds Club, London. UK
»ten of cups« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2014
»Mensch werde wesentlich« Freunde aktueller Kunst. Zwickau
2013
»salondergegenwart« Hamburg (C)
»showcase« with Michael Krenz. maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2011
»Welcome (New) Home!« maerzgalerie. Berlin
2010
»maerzflimmern 99/09« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2009
»Details Sketchy« maerzgalerie. Berlin
»maerzflimmern« maerzgalerie. Berlin
2006
»EAST goin‘ WEST« Fahrradhalle. Offenbach
2005
»Die Zwölfte« 12. Leipziger Jahresausstellung. Städtisches Kaufhaus. Leipzig (C)
»Ein Glück, dass sie da sind ...« maerzgalerie. Leipzig
2001
»Lucas, Schreyer, Sommer« Galerie Timm Gierig. Frankfurt am Main
2000
»Neues aus Meisterklassen« Bauconsult-Köln. Cologne
»Klasse Gille« Galerie Timm Gieri. Frankfurt am Main (C)
(C) Catalogue
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