Black Cube Gallery is proud to present Modern Frescos, the first solo exhibition in India by Berlin-based contemporary artist Paul Kuntze. Born in 1995, Kuntze brings an extraordinary synthesis of history and modernity, reimagining the grandeur of Baroque frescoes through a distinctly contemporary lens.
Rooted in deep admiration for the ceiling paintings of historic churches and palaces, Kuntze’s practice bridges centuries of artistic thought. His works recall the celestial drama of Baroque frescoes; those vast, illusionistic portals into divine space; while embracing the gestural freedom and abstraction of the 20th century. In his own words, Kuntze “creates something that reminds the viewer of original frescos but with intuitive parts in it, like the figures, to confront the viewers with their own creativity.”
The tension between control and intuition and precision and spontaneity on his canvases, gives the works their unique resonance.
They appear both ancient and alive, as if fragments of a celestial ceiling had drifted gently down to earth.
As Black Cube introduces Paul Kuntze to Indian audiences, Modern Frescos stands as both homage and innovation - a testament to how history can be reborn through the hand of a new generation.