The Aargau Art Museum is currently hosting the largest institutional solo exhibition to date of Swiss contemporary artist Klodin Erb, featuring over 300 works displayed across twelve ground-floor rooms. The exhibition, titled "Curtain Falls Dog Barks," opened in late September and represents a comprehensive showcase of the 62-year-old artist's experimental work, solidifying her position as one of Switzerland's most significant contemporary painters.
The dramatic opening scene of the exhibition sets the tone for visitors' experience. Standing in the entrance of her exhibition at the Aargau Art Museum, Erb is flanked by a shimmering mirror on her left and a landscape painting fitted into a fabric-covered vanity table fixture on her right. The space falls silent before suddenly crashing as a heavy curtain in the center of the room plummets several meters to the ground, startling the audience as the artist grins at their reaction.
The Aargau Art Museum serves as an important venue for Swiss art and houses the country's largest public collection, making it a fitting location for such an ambitious retrospective. Erb, known for her experimental approach to art, achieved international recognition relatively late in her career but has maintained her artistic freedom throughout her journey. The exhibition creates an immersive experience that fluctuates between documentary and feature film, inviting visitors into an active dialogue with the artworks.
Despite the impressive staging throughout the museum, the inner courtyard featuring the hut of Cerberus, the hellhound from Greek mythology, particularly draws visitors' attention. This installation serves as a central attraction within the comprehensive display of Erb's diverse body of work. The exhibition demonstrates how Erb continues to challenge conventional boundaries in contemporary art while maintaining her distinctive voice and vision.
The comprehensive nature of this retrospective offers audiences an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the full scope of Erb's artistic development and experimental techniques. As one of the most significant exhibitions of Swiss contemporary art this year, "Curtain Falls Dog Barks" reinforces the Aargau Art Museum's reputation as a crucial platform for showcasing innovative artistic voices from Switzerland and beyond.
