‘Michael Armitage. Pathos and the Twilight of the Idle’ published on occasion of the exhibition at Kunsthaus Bregenz in 2023.

Michael Armitage’s large-scale oil paintings on lubugo (bark cloth) possess a seductive artistic beauty. At the same time, they generate an uneasy atmosphere, appear gloomy, sometimes disturbing.

The British-Kenyan painter masterfully interweaves stories and themes from his East African homeland with the artistic traditions of Europe and East Africa.

On three floors, the works brought together in the exhibition ‘Pathos and the Twilight of the Idle’ at Kunsthaus Bregenz tell of the fragility of political, social, and psychic conditions.

In a modestly designed publication of exceptional format—inspired by the presentation of the works in the scaled-back architecture of Kunsthaus Bregenz—the paintings and drawings are shown to advantage on a large scale and displaying their full radiance.

Supplementing the illustrated works is an extensive conversation between Michael Armitage and Thomas D. Trummer, tracing the exhibition’s dramaturgy. In it, the artist also offers deep personal insight into the process of creating his works.

English and German text.

Published on occasion of the exhibition ‘Michael Armitage. Pathos and the Twilight of the Idle’, 15 Jul – 29 Oct 2023, Kunsthaus Bregenz.