studio
Matthias Gubler
Räffelstrasse 25
CH - 8045 Zurich
Switzerland
++41 76 398 1660
++41 44 508 09 27
post@thisisthis.ch
www.thisisthis.ch
The beauty in
infinite loop
For over 10 years, Matthias Gubler has been exploring the media of video, installations and interventions with a socio-political context in his artistic work. He is always concerned with making the fragility and fragility of the world perceptible, but also with aisthesis itself. Looking at the various works created using different media, one quickly notices that Gubler‘s works demand time, patience and a lot of attention from the viewer in order to approach the subject matter. Another central moment in his works is the concept of the endless loop as a videoloop, which is able to express a whole spectrum of feelings. Through the supposed recurrence of the same, we can recognise the beauty of a moment over and over again. In this way, the magic of a moment can be captured in all its fragility.
The origin of the videoloop goes back to the beginnings of cinema, where the miracle drum, the zoetrope and the phenakistiscope were used. This involved spinning a cardboard wheel rapidly to animate drawings at twelve frames per revolution. Edward Muybridge analysed the human gait and the gallop of horses in his documentary photographs and already managed to create endless loops with them. Looking at Gubler‘s video loops with their precise endless loops, time seems to stand still. Like the symbolism of the Ouroboros, the eternal snake, or Nietzsche‘s „Eternal Return“, the loop unfolds in its structure its very own relationship to time, which is not found in this way in other media.
In his video works, Gubler uses different techniques in the processing of his videoloops, which result in different processes of creation and appearances of the works. In his series „Videocollagen“, the artist juxtaposes two loops and thus sets them in a continuous dialogue. The selection of the subjects of the juxtaposed videos is intuitive. By means of targeted image composition and a coordinated rhythm of movement, compositional dialogues are created that trigger reflection in the viewer. The artist then coordinates the subjects conceptually and formally so that a humorous, even sarcastic space is created between the two loops. In this approach, collage means the juxtaposition of different subjects that give rise to associations through the composition and the rhythm used.
In other works, Gubler uses the modality of collage in a classical sense. Video fragments from the genre of „found footage“ are cut out and collaged into each other compositionally in another cut, as for example in the works „Rhizom“, „Post Navigation“ or „Schnittzeichnen“. From elements that originally do not belong together, a new whole is created that follows a content-related or design principle. In this way, sometimes format-filling, large-scale, looping video frescos are created, which with their countless layers metaphorically reflect the density in our everyday existence, or reduced and strikingly designed video loops in the form of digital perpetuum mobiles, which make us believe we are following a constant movement and observing a hypnotising symbiosis. The aesthetic moment here lies in the playful experimentation and imaginative manipulation of moving images with the help of digital technologies.
In his more recent works, the artist supplements the „found footage“ from the internet with his own filmed material or uses exclusively self-filmed raw material, as for example in the works „Kreislauf“ or the series „Future Island“. The fact that the „raw material“ is self-filmed is essential here, since the individual loops must be similar in colour, perspective and detail for the final work. Gubler arranges the self-filmed subjects in such a way that, objectively speaking, they retain their pictorial representation but are given a new conceptual and conceptualised content. For example, sections of coastline are collaged into supposed „dream islands“, which the viewers try in vain to locate on the world map.
Gubler uses different techniques in his video works, which result in different processes of creation and appearances of the works. What they all have in common is the supposed recurrence of the same, mostly calm in the flow of the image and all without hard editing. The digital loops appear as projections in space or mostly by means of presentation as framed screens. In the latter case, the screen serves as a „new canvas“ and a painting with moving images opens up. The works are thus not object art, but rather an experimental or playful approach by the artist to strengthen the formal aspect and to foreground questions of perception by means of the frame as an intermediate space between the viewer and the video work. Gubler‘s sampling of digital fragments and the associated ongoing research into the adequate form of presentation of the same bring the experimental character of the artistic mode of expression to the fore.
Although Gubler‘s works reflect different themes, take place in different media and are created using varying techniques, they all illustrate the artist‘s central concerns. In a fast-paced, almost completely digitalised world of increasing and barely manageable complexity, Matthias Gubler‘s works demand one thing above all: time and attention from the viewer. Although they sometimes appear easily accessible, the complexity of the themes only opens up through contemplation. The irritation and reflection they are intended to evoke in the viewer is not appellative, but almost poetic. Thus they do not give the viewer a one-to-one statement, but leave it up to him to reflect on ambiguities.
Text: Nadja Bohrer
Exhibitions
(selection)
2024
Trilogie Südtrottoir
Off-Space Hartdurm, Zürich
2023
ART MARKET BUDAPEST
A-Space Galery
The beauty in infinite loop
Brugge, Belgium
WHATZ ART FAIR
Taipei, Taiwan
minimale,2023
Rathaus Schwyz, Schwyz
Eva Porate
Generalkonsulat, New York, USA
SPEKTRUM 4
nano, Zürich
2022
TA3 Gallery
Warsaw, Polen
Sichten&Schichten
nano, Zürich
Yiyun Art Gallery
Taipei, Taiwan
R-StartupStudio
Tokyo, Japan
Seed 2.0
Rheinfelden, DE
Ursinnig
Zeughaus Pfäffikon
Schöne entrückte Welt
Kornschütte, Luzern
2021
Grosse Regionale
Kunstzeughaus, Rapperswil (SG)
ART TAICHUNG
Taipei, Taiwan
Atlantis im Sinn
Oerlikon, Zürich
ART MARKET BUDAPEST
SEED 2.0, A-Space Galery
2019
Der verwaschene Ort
ZWZ, 6 1/2 im Exil, Zurich
Value the Process
TART, Zurich
Kunstankäufe des Kt.Schwyz
Museum Ital Reding-Hofstatt, Schwyz
& Galleria il Tesoro, Altendorf
2018
Alles Fassade
Kunsthalle(n) Toggenburg
Ein Wal in der Badewanne […]
6 1/2 im Exil, Zurich
Digital
Kunstraum Waldhaus, Zurich
2017
VERSUS
Art on construction, Baden
2016
Das Fabrikutop
former cement factory, Brunnen
2015
META Schwyz
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
tactung-festival
Off-Location, Binz, Zurich
gone fishing 24
TART, Zurich
2014
Der Aufstand der Dinge
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
Monolight
Güterschuppen, Glarus
Wish
Kunstraum Aarau
Le Terrain vague
Hardplatz, Zürich
2013
Seifenbaum und Wolkenbrot
Gersau
Le Gruttli Flotte
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
2012
Die Fabrik ruft
former cement factory, Brunnen
[…]
Residences
Prices
Collections
2024
RHIZOM I & II
Harddiskmuseum, Paris
2023
FUTURE ISLAND 6-8
Art Collection Canton Schwyz
Residence Central Switzerland
Studio NYC
4 month stay in New York, USA
2022
RHIZOM RELIK IV
Art Collection Canton Zurich
Future Island III
Art Collection City Zurich
2021
Videocollagen, Series IV,
Chapter 13-16, Act 61-80
videokunst.ch
Collection C. and G.
Ketterer-Ertle
2019
Videocollagen, Series I-III,
Chapter 1-12, Act 1-60
videokunst.ch
Collection C. and G.
Ketterer-Ertle
2018
Videocollagen, Series II,
Chapture 5-8, Act 21-40
Art Collection Canton Schwyz
2017
Baufeldbaukasten, TCZ
Swiss Print Award
2014
Architekturfroum Schwyz
Cari Lekebush
Tanzklinik
24th Intern. Posterbiennale
Warschau
2013
Prints and Tunes
100 beste Plakate 2010
(D), (A) & (CH)
Le Grutli Flotte
Werkbeitrag Fachstelle Kultur Zurich
2011
Silvester Clash,
Danilo Vigorito,
Schnittzeichnen,
100 beste Plakate 2010
(D), (A) & (CH)
Publications
Teaching
(selection)
2024
Prinzip Collage – Repair-> Re(f)use
Colabor, HSLU
Trilogie Südtrottoir
Exhibition publication
2023
SZENE
Das Kulturmagazin
minimale
Exhibition publication
and Art-TV Article
2022
Ursinnig
Exhibition publication
2021
“SPAESAMETI”
Online Article
by Francesca Canfora
2018
Ein Wal in der Badewanne […]
Edition Sechseinhalb
Alles Fassade,
Kunsthallen Toggenburg
Art-TV Article
2017
Versus
Book publication
Hier und Jetzt Verlag, Baden
Kunst braucht Zeit braucht Kunst
Book publication
Edition Galerie am Leewasser
2016
Das Fabrikutop
Edition Sechseinhalb
2015
meta schwyz
Ausstellungspublikation &
Art-TV Article
Soirée Nr°8
Book publication
Komet Verlag
2014
Wish,
Le Terrain vague,
Monolight,
Der Aufstand der Dinge,
Edition Sechseinhalb
Mag. Hakuin Airlines
Magazine publication
Hakuin Verlag
2013
Le Gruttli Flotte,
Seifenbaum und Wolkenbrot
Edition Sechseinhalb
The Firebacks
Book publication
100 beste Plakate 13
Book publication,
Verlag Hermann Schmidt
2012
Die Fabrik ruft
Edition Sechseinhalb
[…]
Studio
Matthias Gubler
Räffelstrasse 25
CH - 8045 Zurich
Switzerland
++41 76 398 1660
++41 44 508 09 27
post@thisisthis.ch
www.thisisthis.ch
The beauty in
infinite loop
For over 10 years, Matthias Gubler has been exploring the media of video, installations and interventions with a socio-political context in his artistic work. He is always concerned with making the fragility and fragility of the world perceptible, but also with aisthesis itself. Looking at the various works created using different media, one quickly notices that Gubler‘s works demand time, patience and a lot of attention from the viewer in order to approach the subject matter. Another central moment in his works is the concept of the endless loop as a videoloop, which is able to express a whole spectrum of feelings. Through the supposed recurrence of the same, we can recognise the beauty of a moment over and over again. In this way, the magic of a moment can be captured in all its fragility.
The origin of the videoloop goes back to the beginnings of cinema, where the miracle drum, the zoetrope and the phenakistiscope were used. This involved spinning a cardboard wheel rapidly to animate drawings at twelve frames per revolution. Edward Muybridge analysed the human gait and the gallop of horses in his documentary photographs and already managed to create endless loops with them. Looking at Gubler‘s video loops with their precise endless loops, time seems to stand still. Like the symbolism of the Ouroboros, the eternal snake, or Nietzsche‘s „Eternal Return“, the loop unfolds in its structure its very own relationship to time, which is not found in this way in other media.
In his video works, Gubler uses different techniques in the processing of his videoloops, which result in different processes of creation and appearances of the works. In his series „Videocollagen“, the artist juxtaposes two loops and thus sets them in a continuous dialogue. The selection of the subjects of the juxtaposed videos is intuitive. By means of targeted image composition and a coordinated rhythm of movement, compositional dialogues are created that trigger reflection in the viewer. The artist then coordinates the subjects conceptually and formally so that a humorous, even sarcastic space is created between the two loops. In this approach, collage means the juxtaposition of different subjects that give rise to associations through the composition and the rhythm used.
In other works, Gubler uses the modality of collage in a classical sense. Video fragments from the genre of „found footage“ are cut out and collaged into each other compositionally in another cut, as for example in the works „Rhizom“, „Post Navigation“ or „Schnittzeichnen“. From elements that originally do not belong together, a new whole is created that follows a content-related or design principle. In this way, sometimes format-filling, large-scale, looping video frescos are created, which with their countless layers metaphorically reflect the density in our everyday existence, or reduced and strikingly designed video loops in the form of digital perpetuum mobiles, which make us believe we are following a constant movement and observing a hypnotising symbiosis. The aesthetic moment here lies in the playful experimentation and imaginative manipulation of moving images with the help of digital technologies.
In his more recent works, the artist supplements the „found footage“ from the internet with his own filmed material or uses exclusively self-filmed raw material, as for example in the works „Kreislauf“ or the series „Future Island“. The fact that the „raw material“ is self-filmed is essential here, since the individual loops must be similar in colour, perspective and detail for the final work. Gubler arranges the self-filmed subjects in such a way that, objectively speaking, they retain their pictorial representation but are given a new conceptual and conceptualised content. For example, sections of coastline are collaged into supposed „dream islands“, which the viewers try in vain to locate on the world map.
Gubler uses different techniques in his video works, which result in different processes of creation and appearances of the works. What they all have in common is the supposed recurrence of the same, mostly calm in the flow of the image and all without hard editing. The digital loops appear as projections in space or mostly by means of presentation as framed screens. In the latter case, the screen serves as a „new canvas“ and a painting with moving images opens up. The works are thus not object art, but rather an experimental or playful approach by the artist to strengthen the formal aspect and to foreground questions of perception by means of the frame as an intermediate space between the viewer and the video work. Gubler‘s sampling of digital fragments and the associated ongoing research into the adequate form of presentation of the same bring the experimental character of the artistic mode of expression to the fore.
Although Gubler‘s works reflect different themes, take place in different media and are created using varying techniques, they all illustrate the artist‘s central concerns. In a fast-paced, almost completely digitalised world of increasing and barely manageable complexity, Matthias Gubler‘s works demand one thing above all: time and attention from the viewer. Although they sometimes appear easily accessible, the complexity of the themes only opens up through contemplation. The irritation and reflection they are intended to evoke in the viewer is not appellative, but almost poetic. Thus they do not give the viewer a one-to-one statement, but leave it up to him to reflect on ambiguities.
Text: Nadja Bohrer
Exhibitions
(selection)
2024
Trilogie Südtrottoir
Off-Space Hartdurm, Zürich
2023
ART MARKET BUDAPEST
A-Space Galery
The beauty in infinite loop
Brugge, Belgium
WHATZ ART FAIR
Taipei, Taiwan
minimale,2023
Rathaus Schwyz, Schwyz
Eva Porate
Generalkonsulat, New York, USA
SPEKTRUM 4
nano, Zürich
2022
TA3 Gallery
Warsaw, Polen
Sichten&Schichten
nano, Zürich
Yiyun Art Gallery
Taipei, Taiwan
R-StartupStudio
Tokyo, Japan
Seed 2.0
Rheinfelden, DE
Ursinnig
Zeughaus Pfäffikon
Schöne entrückte Welt
Kornschütte, Luzern
2021
Grosse Regionale
Kunstzeughaus, Rapperswil (SG)
ART TAICHUNG
Taipei, Taiwan
Atlantis im Sinn
Oerlikon, Zürich
ART MARKET BUDAPEST
SEED 2.0, A-Space Galery
2019
Der verwaschene Ort
ZWZ, 6 1/2 im Exil, Zurich
Value the Process
TART, Zurich
Kunstankäufe des Kt.Schwyz
Museum Ital Reding-Hofstatt, Schwyz
& Galleria il Tesoro, Altendorf
2018
Alles Fassade
Kunsthalle(n) Toggenburg
Ein Wal in der Badewanne […]
6 1/2 im Exil, Zurich
Digital
Kunstraum Waldhaus, Zurich
2017
VERSUS
Art on construction, Baden
2016
Das Fabrikutop
former cement factory, Brunnen
2015
META Schwyz
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
tactung-festival
Off-Location, Binz, Zurich
gone fishing 24
TART, Zurich
2014
Der Aufstand der Dinge
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
Monolight
Güterschuppen, Glarus
Wish
Kunstraum Aarau
Le Terrain vague
Hardplatz, Zürich
2013
Seifenbaum und Wolkenbrot
Gersau
Le Gruttli Flotte
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
2012
Die Fabrik ruft
former cement factory, Brunnen
[…]
Residences
Prices
Collections
2024
RHIZOM I & II
Harddiskmuseum, Paris
2023
FUTURE ISLAND 6-8
Art Collection Canton Schwyz
Residence Central Switzerland
Studio NYC
4 month stay in New York, USA
2022
RHIZOM RELIK IV
Art Collection Canton Zurich
Future Island III
Art Collection City Zurich
2021
Videocollagen, Series IV,
Chapter 13-16, Act 61-80
videokunst.ch
Collection C. and G.
Ketterer-Ertle
2019
Videocollagen, Series I-III,
Chapter 1-12, Act 1-60
videokunst.ch
Collection C. and G.
Ketterer-Ertle
2018
Videocollagen, Series II,
Chapture 5-8, Act 21-40
Art Collection Canton Schwyz
2017
Baufeldbaukasten, TCZ
Swiss Print Award
2014
Architekturfroum Schwyz
Cari Lekebush
Tanzklinik
24th Intern. Posterbiennale
Warschau
2013
Prints and Tunes
100 beste Plakate 2010
(D), (A) & (CH)
Le Grutli Flotte
Werkbeitrag Fachstelle Kultur Zurich
2011
Silvester Clash,
Danilo Vigorito,
Schnittzeichnen,
100 beste Plakate 2010
(D), (A) & (CH)
Publications
Teaching
(selection)
2024
Prinzip Collage – Repair-> Re(f)use
Colabor, HSLU
Trilogie Südtrottoir
Exhibition publication
2023
SZENE
Das Kulturmagazin
minimale
Exhibition publication
and Art-TV Article
2022
Ursinnig
Exhibition publication
2021
“SPAESAMETI”
Online Article
by Francesca Canfora
2018
Ein Wal in der Badewanne […]
Edition Sechseinhalb
Alles Fassade,
Kunsthallen Toggenburg
Art-TV Article
2017
Versus
Book publication
Hier und Jetzt Verlag, Baden
Kunst braucht Zeit braucht Kunst
Book publication
Edition Galerie am Leewasser
2016
Das Fabrikutop
Edition Sechseinhalb
2015
meta schwyz
Ausstellungspublikation &
Art-TV Article
Soirée Nr°8
Book publication
Komet Verlag
2014
Wish,
Le Terrain vague,
Monolight,
Der Aufstand der Dinge,
Edition Sechseinhalb
Mag. Hakuin Airlines
Magazine publication
Hakuin Verlag
2013
Le Gruttli Flotte,
Seifenbaum und Wolkenbrot
Edition Sechseinhalb
The Firebacks
Book publication
100 beste Plakate 13
Book publication,
Verlag Hermann Schmidt
2012
Die Fabrik ruft
Edition Sechseinhalb
[…]
2015
META Schwyz
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
tactung-festival
Off-Location, Binz, Zurich
gone fishing 24
TART, Zurich
2014
Der Aufstand der Dinge
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
Monolight
Güterschuppen, Glarus
Wish
Kunstraum Aarau
Le Terrain vague
Hardplatz, Zürich
2013
Seifenbaum und Wolkenbrot
Gersau
Le Gruttli Flotte
Galerie am Leewasser, Brunnen
2012
Die Fabrik ruft
former cement factory, Brunnen
[…]
Residences
Prices
Collections
2023
Residence Central Switzerland
Studio NYC
4 month stay in New York, USA
2022
RHIZOM RELIK IV
Art Collection Canton Zurich
Future Island III
Art Collection City Zurich
2021
Videocollagen, Series IV,
Chapter 13-16, Act 61-80
videokunst.ch
Collection C. and G.
Ketterer-Ertle
2019
Videocollagen, Series I-III,
Chapter 1-12, Act 1-60
videokunst.ch
Collection C. and G.
Ketterer-Ertle
2018
Videocollagen, Series II,
Chapture 5-8, Act 21-40
Art Collection Canton Schwyz
2017
Baufeldbaukasten, TCZ
Swiss Print Award
2014
Architekturfroum Schwyz
Cari Lekebush
Tanzklinik
24th Intern. Posterbiennale
Warschau
2013
Prints and Tunes
100 beste Plakate 2010
(D), (A) & (CH)
Le Grutli Flotte
Werkbeitrag Fachstelle Kultur Zurich
2011
Silvester Clash,
Danilo Vigorito,
Schnittzeichnen,
100 beste Plakate 2010
(D), (A) & (CH)
Publications
(selection)
2022
Ursinnig
Exhibition publication
2021
“SPAESAMETI”
Online Article
by Francesca Canfora
2018
Ein Wal in der Badewanne […]
Edition Sechseinhalb
Alles Fassade,
Kunsthallen Toggenburg
Art-TV Article
2017
Versus
Book publication
Hier und Jetzt Verlag, Baden
Kunst braucht Zeit braucht Kunst
Book publication
Edition Galerie am Leewasser
2016
Das Fabrikutop
Edition Sechseinhalb
2015
meta schwyz
Ausstellungspublikation &
Art-TV Article
Soirée Nr°8
Book publication
Komet Verlag
2014
Wish,
Le Terrain vague,
Monolight,
Der Aufstand der Dinge,
Edition Sechseinhalb
Mag. Hakuin Airlines
Magazine publication
Hakuin Verlag
2013
Le Gruttli Flotte,
Seifenbaum und Wolkenbrot
Edition Sechseinhalb
The Firebacks
Book publication
100 beste Plakate 13
Book publication,
Verlag Hermann Schmidt
2012
Die Fabrik ruft
Edition Sechseinhalb
[…]
