In his work, Imi Knoebel (born Klaus Wolf Knoebel) deals with analytical series of works in which the artist explores the relationships between space, medium and color. His minimalist approach to the core elements of modern painting can be traced back to his role model Kazimir Malevich. The installation “Room 19” from 1968 is still considered one of the pioneering works of minimalism. It was modeled on Room 19 at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, which was commissioned by Joseph Beuys and is considered an identity-forming space for Knoebel’s later work. The first color paintings were created in 1974, before which the artist had worked exclusively in a purist style with light projections and monochrome painting. After the polygonal panel paintings (Mennigebilder) of 1975, he turned to playful, free and polychrome forms from the second half of the 1970s.
The artist’s political commitment can be seen in projects such as “Kinderstern” (1988) or his participation in the exhibition “Gegen das Kriegsrecht in Polen – für Solidarność” (1982) at the Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf with Georg Baselitz, Joseph Beuys and Jörg Immendorf, among others.
