Adrian Ghenie - Shadow Paintings: Reinterpreting Egon Schiele's Lost Masterpieces

The ALBERTINA presents “Adrian Ghenie: Shadow Paintings”, a groundbreaking exhibition that brings Egon Schiele’s lost masterpieces back to life. Based on the concept by Ciprian Adrian Barsan, this project takes viewers on a metaphysical journey between decay and recreation. Around a quarter of Schiele’s works, addressing themes such as death, sexuality, and melancholy, exist only as black-and-white shadow images.

Adrian Ghenie, one of the most prominent contemporary artists, transforms these lost images into vibrant, color-rich artworks. His masterful ability to blur the boundaries between reality and abstraction creates a powerful homage to Schiele’s legacy. This artistic search highlights an intergenerational dialogue between two painters, both exploring the depths of the human psyche.

“Once you leave behind the traditional constraints of anatomy, the way you distort the human form can become a portrait of character or the inner psyche on a deeper level.” – Adrian Ghenie

Highlights of the Book:

- A revolutionary reinterpretation of Egon Schiele’s lost works by Adrian Ghenie
- A captivating dialogue between two master painters from different eras
- A unique visual search for lost masterpieces
- Insight into contemporary art and its engagement with the past

A must-have for art lovers and anyone fascinated by Egon Schiele, Adrian Ghenie, and the fusion of tradition and modernity.

Adrian Ghenie (*1977 in Baia Mare, Romania), is one of the most celebrated painters of his generation. His work is considered "posthumously born" in the Nietzschean sense, blending past influences with contemporary themes. Ghenie is known for merging personal, political, and art historical themes, combining abstract and figurative elements, and exploring the possibilities of his medium. He draws on personal memories, art historical references, film stills, and internet visuals.

Egon Schiele (1890–1918) showed exceptional artistic talent at an early age. He entered the Vienna Academy in 1906, but soon left due to conflicts and founded the Neukunstgruppe. Known for his expressive works, Schiele achieved significant fame in 1918, but died of the Spanish flu at the age of 28.