Peter Roehr (37 works)

Peter Roehr (1944–1968) is an artist who died young, while in his prime: In a lifetime reduced to a mere 23 years, he created more than 600 works in an impressive oeuvre. For his large-scale, mostly square panels, Roehr collected mail stickers, labels, advertising leaflets, beer coasters and milk tins, which he cut out and pasted together, added to and multiplied. At the typewriter he always typed the same letter or the same word. As brief and restless as Roehr’s life was, his works of art seem so calm and meditative, and indebted to the principle of serial arrangement. Any impression of distinctiveness, any sense of individuality was to be avoided – as well as any traces of the artist. Roehr wanted to disappear behind his panels. Now he is being rediscovered. This book was produced for the eponymous exhibition at the Villa Grisebach, Berlin. It shows the 37 selected works together with an essay by Florian Illies, which brings together Roehr’s Minimalist Art and his eventful life.