ST. MORITZ.- On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Karsten Greve Gallery in St. Moritz, the gallery opened the exhibition "WOLS." This high-profile presentation pays tribute to the ground-breaking work of Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schulze, known as WOLS (1913 Berlin - 1951 Paris), and showcases works such as paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, and archival materials from the extensive collection of Karsten Greve.

This exhibition marks not only a significant milestone for the Karsten Greve Gallery but also pays homage to WOLS, whose work embodies the universal struggles of his time. The gallery first introduced WOLS to the public in 1998 with a retrospective in Cologne, and this new exhibition is the result of more than 25 years of dedicated engagement with his artistic legacy.

"Wols, little man from the moon, stranded among us, conducts his obstinate monologue with conscientious-loyal persistence. His mysterious hieroglyphs, which can rival the delicacy of a spider's web, teach us the poetry of interplanetary cosmos and, amidst the subtle fractures of their rainbow-colored shimmering light, recreate the fauna, the flora, and even the dreamt humans of invisible microcosms," wrote Jean Sylvère in 1943. His visionary work reflects a life marked by war and exile, encapsulating the deep pain and bitterness of persecution that Europe experienced before and during World War II.

WOLS was not only a painter but also a musician, photographer, and poet. His deep sensitivity to the surrounding world led him to Paris in 1932 amidst the rising threat of National Socialism. There, he embraced photography and its technical possibilities, creating significant works that showcased the influence of New Objectivity and Surrealism. His photographic repertoire earned him international recognition at the 1937 World’s Fair for his images of the "Pavillon de l’Élégance."

WOLS' tumultuous experiences during and after the war further fueled his creative spirit. In internment camps, he continued to draw and developed the ambitious project Circus WOLS, which aimed to connect popular culture with art, music, and cinema. His time in post-war Paris marked a revival of his painting, supported by the gallerist René Drouin, leading to his rise as a key figure in the art world.

The exhibition showcases WOLS' unique ability to transform the harrowing realities of his life into an imaginative realm by creating organic and urban microcosms filled with hope and creativity. His approximately 80 paintings and numerous works on paper reflect a tumult of forms and colors, embodied in his extraordinary sense of materiality.

WOLS transcended artistic boundaries and embodied the freedom of thought and existence. This exhibition not only reflects his life and work but also celebrates the persistent spirit of creative expression that the Karsten Greve Gallery strives to preserve.

Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schulze, known as WOLS, was born in 1913 in Berlin into a family of high officials. After moving to Dresden, WOLS met many significant artists, such as Paul Klee, Otto Dix, and Oskar Kokoschka. He was musically talented, playing the violin and banjo. After being introduced to photography by Genga Jonas, he moved to Paris in 1932. In 1941 he married Gréty Dabija. Defended by numerous Parisian artists and writers, WOLS stayed in France during the war, developing his artistic work until his death on September 1, 1951, at the age of 38. In 1951, WOLS was exhibited alongside Jackson Pollock, marking a historic encounter between the French and American non-figurative schools. In 1958, his work was shown at the Venice Biennale, and in 1964 at documenta III in Kassel. In 1974, the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris dedicated a retrospective to him, followed by the Kunsthaus Zürich and the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf in 1989, later by the Menil Collection in Houston (2013) and the Centre Pompidou in Paris (2020). His works are held in the world’s most significant collections, including MoMA and the MET in New York, the Menil Collection in Houston, the Art Institute in Chicago, Tate London, the National Gallery in Berlin, the Kunstmuseum Basel, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.