5 February, 2004
t a p p e r - p o p e r m a j e r

The paintings of Jason Berger

7 Feb - 28 March

Born: 1924, Malden, Massachusetts
Education with Ossip Zadkine, Paris, France

Permanent Collection of Museum of Modern Art, New York
Permanent Collection Guggenheim Museum, New York
Permanent Collection Rockefeller Medical Center, New York


Selected exhibitions:
Institute of Modern Art, Boston, Ma.
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Il.
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, Ma.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Museum of Modern Art, New York

We are honoured to represent and, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, to exhibit the works of Jason Berger. Someone once referred to Jason as the "Mozart of modern painting". This is a very bold statement, but after getting detailed knowledge of the works of Jason Berger, we have come to realize that such a statement is no so far-fetched after all.

Jason was always considered extremely talented and, although influences by other artists can be traced in his works, has continuously developed his own style of painting. References can be made to expressionism, fauvism, impressionism, cubism, abstract expressionism etc.. However, his works are very distinctly, first and foremost, very personal. A painting by Jason Berger is very appealing and easy to like because of its wonderful colors and spontaneous approach. However, importantly, there is more to his works than the direct appeal. His experience, talent, and inner vision of what is for him a true representation of a scenery, makes his paintings outstanding - just like the music of Mozart.

The paintings of Jason Berger is either conceived "en plein air", that is directly in confrontation with a scenery, or in his studio as "flat" or "studio paintings". The latter paintings are important, and in these he abstracts and condenses the subject in order to reach the essence of what is his response to, or his experience of, something directly observed.

There is always a non-tangible quality of Jason's paintings that makes you feel something that you can't explain. It is just like good music.

Sthlm Art Fair 2004

13 Feb - 15 Feb

"The Cosmopolitan Chicken: Glass Crossings"

In this project Vanmechelen blends the characteristics of glass artifacts from different national traditions by mixing the work of different glass masters. It is a genetic mix of different glassblowers who create unexpected works. A mix of different cultures. Glass, living material and a container of all the natural elements, is the perfect material.

The starting point is the Murano crossing which the artist considers as the beginning of his glass crusade. Just like the Redjunglefowl or primal chicken in his cosmopolitan chicken project.

The first glass crossing originated in Waterford, the product of a glass intercourse between Italy and Ireland.

Vamechelen's second creation, "Bouzat", happened in France.

Vanmechelen: "Italian glass is always my starting point as Italy is the mecca of glass blowing. But Italian glass artists are beyond the glass, incapable of making mistakes and giving failure a chance as a starting point for something completely new. That's why the "inbreeding" is essential. My "Bouzat" has exactly that power because it combines the perfect and the imperfect and transgresses the traditional boundaries."

Vanmechelen's third glass crossing combines Italian glass and American neon light.

The fourth glass crossing combines Italy and Sweden. The result is an egg that carries the genetic hope of fertile life under the name "Visible- Invisible".

"The act of creating glass art is more important than the creation itself. I am interested in the research to get the work done, in the different layers in the work: the culture on which it is based, the stories, the glassblowers' traditions."

As with his chicken Vanmechelen takes something that is completely devalued and transforms it into a Phoenix. He calls this "the middle", the true place of art: breaking seemingly opposing extremes to create something unexpected.

Saturday 14/2

Artist talks by Koen Vanmechelen and Lars Vilks
15.30 - 16.30

Unconventional tools of the modern artist. Chickens and bureaucrats - a seminar with Koen Vanmechelen (creator of the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project) and Lars Vilks (state secretary of Ladonia).

Presented by Tapper-Popermajer Art Gallery

KRONAN Trademark AB
supports the Cosmopolitan Glass Exhibition
at Stockholm Art Fair

Too much text? More images at:

Tue-Fri 11.30-17.30, Sat 12-16

Amiralsgatan 16, SE-211 55 Malmoe, Sweden
+46 (40) 97 09 10, +46 (70) 251 19 45