André Schulze and Philipp Alexander Schäfer challenge our perception of the analogue in the digital age

This double exhibition at the E30 Gallery in Frankfurt showcases two conceptually rigorous approaches to contemporary art: André Schulze (Dresden) and Philipp Alexander Schäfer (Frankfurt). The exhibition offers a radical examination of digital aesthetics, material obsolescence and the paradoxical relationship between cultural memory and the algorithmically shaped present.

The title 'Flamingo Paradox' encapsulates the surreal irony with which the artists transform established realities. Here, you will witness how the ultimate form of preservation becomes the foundation for new creation.

André Schulze's authority as an artist stems from his unique dual qualifications: he is a trained painting restorer and was a master's student of Prof. Christian Macketanz at the HfBK Dresden. This background gives him a unique understanding of the 'inner workings of classical painting'.

In his vintage series, Schulze reworks traditional paintings from the last hundred years, giving them a 'second life' by combining restoration with contemporary overpainting. He applies technically flawless hyperrealistic or digital motifs, such as pixelation, to the historical canvases. See for yourself how icons such as 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' are pixelated, or how Minions are placed in a mountain landscape. Thematically, Schulze's work is deeply rooted in Eastern European heritage. In his series of functional buildings, he focuses on industrial power stations, transforming these architectural structures into melancholic, colourful landscapes with surreal and ironic interventions, including the eponymous flamingos.

Philipp Alexander Schäfer is one of the most conceptually striking voices in Frankfurt. He is unique in that he has combined two careers: he helped shape the Frankfurt art scene for over two decades with his 'City Ghosts', and then became a lecturer in empirical social research methods at Goethe University.

His art is a materialised commentary. The fundamental departure from conventional painting lies in his radical choice of image carrier: Schäfer applies classic oil paint directly to recycled computer circuit boards (PCBs). This physical support becomes a statement on technological obsolescence and a critical reflection on AI and consumption. Conceptually, Schäfer's paintings focus on systematically critiquing artificial perception. Although the images initially appear deceptively realistic, they reveal a 'surreal and flawed' structure, as seen in his intertwined, seemingly endless flamingo necks. Thus, Schäfer visualises the inherent error in the code and offers a methodical diagnosis of digital reality. The painting is complemented by sculptures such as a fire extinguisher melting into the floor.

'Flamingo Paradox' is a curatorial bridge where analogue depth meets digital fragmentation. The exhibited works mirror our time, offering intellectual precision and emotional radiance — they symbolise an age in which memory, matter and information converge.

Vernissage: Friday 7 November 2025, 7.30pm. The artists will be present.

Additional opening hours: Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and by individual appointment at any time free of charge.