Das Rhein Rauschen, 2016

Solo exhibition curated by Emilie Bruner at Villa Renata, Basel
(11 Nov-4 Dec 2016 CH)

Works shown in the exhibition:

Fundstücke, 2016: papier-mâché sculptures with chalk and pigments

Gesture Images, 2016: series of five b&w photographs, fine art prints

Rhein Wal Expedition, 2016: HD video, 1 min 44 sec, b&w, silent

Film Script, 2016: pen on transparent paper and orange stickers

Fluss Methamorphosen, 2016: collage and pastel on paper

Das Rhein Rauschen, 2016: scent developed in collaboration with perfumer Andreas Wilhelm: available as perfume in 50ml bottle and as 10ml River-Roll-On part of the artist edition box.
Fluss Glas: sniff box, glass container

Voice Images, 2016: series of b&w photographs, fine art prints
Das Kalte Brodeln, 2016: sound piece, 10 min 12 sec. voice Alessandra Eramo, piano Alessandra Eramo and Ines Lechleitner

Ines Lechleitner’s multidisciplinary research on the river Rhine in Basel leads to the creation of her second river perfume Das Rhein Rauschen. The creation of the scent in collaboration with the perfumer Andreas Wilhelm began with the bottle of thought- a collection of words and phrases inspired by the river. It captures the energy of the Rhine, the rushing water, the sound, the brawl, the danger and intoxication, the ever changing colours of the surface, the structure of its making, the collision and the violence of its current.

The double nature of the river is mirrored in the scent creation- one in the riverbed close to sediments as an imprint of the Rhine and the other as a wearable fragrance in its fast flowing, glittering surface next to its slower dark currents from its depth. When the analogy is made between the river and the perfume ones body becomes the shore.

Ines Lechleitner methodical and graphical mapping process stems from her fascination with cave drawings and in this instance the underwater scenes. The Minke whale skeleton floating above the river in the Natural History Museum in Basel inspires the fictional tale of a whale as a vessel and filter through the Rhine’s waters. A film camera captures the movement and nature of the river while following a monofin diver performing the whale’s journey between the Schwarzwaldbrücke and the Dreirosenbrücke.

The images and sounds of the waters surface- the speed, the reflexions of light, the ripple as a surface dance, the exchange of water and air in the whale’s blow and the buoyancy of the river are at the heart of the musical noise improvisation by Ines Lechleitner and the Italian voice artist Alessandra Eramo. The expressive emotion of Eramo during the interpretation is additionally captured in the voice images.

Examining the riverbed the papîer-mâché cast elements can be seen as surface objects made from the elements filtered through the whale on his underwater journey. Their making relates to the strong stomach response to the perfume, the sensation of the river on ones skin and also reflects the dark side of the river. The delicate sculptures are of one body with sediment-like pigments. In their raw state, Lechleitner photographed the model holding- performing- her body casts as gesture images.

The exhibition “Das Rhein Rauschen” displays the scope of Ines Lechleitner´s multidisciplinary practice in photography, video, drawing, sculpture, sound, smell and performance.

The Perfume is a collaboration between Ines Lechleitner and the Zürich based perfumer Andreas Wilhelm and will be lauched on December 4 together with limited artist edition by Ines Lechleitner and Back Bone Books Berlin.

Excerpt (1 min 11 sec) of sound piece Das Kalte Brodeln: voice Alessandra Eramo, 10 min 12 sec, 2016