Philipp Liehr

With his solo exhibition ‘Weltraumgeschichten II’, Philipp Liehr takes us into cosmic spheres and enlivens the Affenfaust Galerie with his impressive astronaut sculptures. We encounter the figures carved from lime wood in a wide variety of formats and are invited to interpret them: Who might be hiding under the armour? What might everyday life on the moon look like? Could concepts of lunar settlements perhaps soon become reality? Or: To what extent do suits and masks influence our social life in general?

Liehr's imaginary space journey also awakens nostalgic memories of our childhood, when we got to know astronauts as toys and comic figures. However, Liehr uses small, humorous accessories to deliberately focus on the human element, while any heroism fades into the background. The anonymous creatures also inspire self-reflection: Through the combination of the hidden facial expressions and the humorous, sometimes absurd, everyday accessories, the figures also reflect facets of our own identity to a certain extent.

The wood sculptor Philipp Liehr is known for his contemporary sculptures, which are characterised by a wealth of detail and extraordinary physicality. He stands out in particular for his fine feel for surfaces such as skin or fabrics. He first developed his extraordinary dexterity as a dental technician, refined it while drawing comics and perfected it during his training as a sculptor. In his artistic work, it finally finds expression in Liehr's unique style. Liehr's art has received several awards and has been presented in numerous exhibitions and trade fairs. He currently lives and works in Halle an der Saale.