
We are pleased to have been invited to participate in this fair by the Frankfurt gallery Sakhile&Me.
For House of Galleries, nouveaux deuxdeux presents works by Austrian artist Christopher Friess (*1998).
Snarky philosophers, anthropomorphic dogs, and acts of domestication.
Exploring the ancient philosophy of Cynicism and the concept of dogness as both a symbol and a living reality, the works features paintings in the fresco technique. This approach aims to provoke reflections on human existence and our drive to domesticate. The dog as a metaphor, closely tied to the philosophy of the Cynics, challenges societal norms by emphasising simplicity and self-sufficiency over material wealth and
social power. This outlook is also reflected in the choice of the historical technique. Fresco painting, traditionally tied to site-specific conditions such as natural light and architectural constraints, involves working on wet plaster and thus prompts the artist to embrace the material’s inherent temporality. By detaching frescoes from their locality and painting them on transportable mineral boards, this method amplifies the cosmopolitan principles advocated by Diogenes and his successors.
A Dog tag serves the purpose of identification and designates an individual as a measurable entity, subject to criteria beyond their control The word thyself suggests connections to the Delphic maxim ‘Gnothi seauton’ (‘Know thyself’), indicating demand for engaging with one’s own self. It calls fo overcoming binary patterns of thought and for adopting a Cynic understanding to move beyond the belief that sensory perception alone can enable an understanding of the world or self-awareness.
For House of Galleries, nouveaux deuxdeux presents works by Austrian artist Christopher Friess (*1998).
Snarky philosophers, anthropomorphic dogs, and acts of domestication.
Exploring the ancient philosophy of Cynicism and the concept of dogness as both a symbol and a living reality, the works features paintings in the fresco technique. This approach aims to provoke reflections on human existence and our drive to domesticate. The dog as a metaphor, closely tied to the philosophy of the Cynics, challenges societal norms by emphasising simplicity and self-sufficiency over material wealth and
social power. This outlook is also reflected in the choice of the historical technique. Fresco painting, traditionally tied to site-specific conditions such as natural light and architectural constraints, involves working on wet plaster and thus prompts the artist to embrace the material’s inherent temporality. By detaching frescoes from their locality and painting them on transportable mineral boards, this method amplifies the cosmopolitan principles advocated by Diogenes and his successors.
A Dog tag serves the purpose of identification and designates an individual as a measurable entity, subject to criteria beyond their control The word thyself suggests connections to the Delphic maxim ‘Gnothi seauton’ (‘Know thyself’), indicating demand for engaging with one’s own self. It calls fo overcoming binary patterns of thought and for adopting a Cynic understanding to move beyond the belief that sensory perception alone can enable an understanding of the world or self-awareness.












