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Lot Essay
Thomas Schtte's primary concern is the substance of human existence and the conditions that affect human behavior. In his earliest drawings, architectural models, and installations, the human aspect of his work is implied through the evocation of the spaces that humans inhabit. This early work also directly alluded to the human condition through abstracted representations of anonymous spectators. As Elisabeth Janus points out, "over the years, however, this human presence has become increasingly obvious and in Schtte's... sculputures one sees him pulling his figures out of anonymity. This is done by making them stands-ins for particular individuals." (Elizabeth Janus, 'Schtte's Innocents', Parkett no.47, p.133).
"Grosse Geister", 1996 is without a doubt one of Schtte's more ambitious works in this continous examination of the human condition. In this work Schtte has created three fantastical and enormous figures made of aluminium that, although robotic in appearance, reveal a careful observation of human physical expressions and gestures. "Almost all of their concrete physicality exists solely within their fleeting gestures; everything in the gleaming metal sculptures appears fluid." (Julian Heyne, 'Survey' in: 'Thomas Schte', London, 1998 p.102.) Their non-human and alien appearrance greatly contrasts with expressions that somehow are familiar to all of us. "Whenever we try to banish them to a world of pure imagination, of playful fantasy, they reveal very human, even touching traits. The condition to which they refer is extremely ambiguous, and cannot actually be named in its full absurdity. They too exist for themselves and are independent of opinions, although in a way that render us helpless because they seem to mean nothing." (Ibid.)
"Grosse Geister", 1996 is without a doubt one of Schtte's more ambitious works in this continous examination of the human condition. In this work Schtte has created three fantastical and enormous figures made of aluminium that, although robotic in appearance, reveal a careful observation of human physical expressions and gestures. "Almost all of their concrete physicality exists solely within their fleeting gestures; everything in the gleaming metal sculptures appears fluid." (Julian Heyne, 'Survey' in: 'Thomas Schte', London, 1998 p.102.) Their non-human and alien appearrance greatly contrasts with expressions that somehow are familiar to all of us. "Whenever we try to banish them to a world of pure imagination, of playful fantasy, they reveal very human, even touching traits. The condition to which they refer is extremely ambiguous, and cannot actually be named in its full absurdity. They too exist for themselves and are independent of opinions, although in a way that render us helpless because they seem to mean nothing." (Ibid.)