Visiting this exhibition, the visitor finds everyday objects that have been identified by artists as works of art. It follows to reason that only by knowing what each artist was thinking can the visitor understand the significance of the individual works. Not knowing the backstory could become a problem. While familiarity with artistic strategies can be of help, often enough one still could use some additional explanation.
Rogalski, the title of this exhibition, is such a situation. To understand it, one must be familiar with a very personal story of ours: The last name of my wife’s first father-in-law was Rogalski; he owned a hardware store in eastern Westphalia. That’s why, in our family, we refer to such stores as “Rogalski stores”. This story has no art historical significance whatsoever.

Axel Haubrok

List of works

Carol Bove
Vege-tables (Land and sea), 2003

Carol Bove
Tower of the prophet, 2002

Christoph Büchel
untitled (Düsseldorf), 2001/2006

Matt Calderwood
Suspension, 2009

Willem de Rooij
Bouquet V, 2010

Elmgreen & Dragset
Gefundene Identität, 2009

Elmgreen & Dragset
Top & bottom, 2007

Morgan Fisher
The Wilkinson household fire alarm, 1973

Jens Haaning
Bagdad time, 2005

Jonathan Monk
Spare wheels, 2007

Christopher Muller
Cut in two, 1994

Christopher Muller
Regrets, 1994

Mathias Poledna
untitled, 2006

Tobias Rehberger
Comme tu moi, comme je toi, 1999

Tobias Rehberger
untitled (Familie), 1999

Andreas Slominski
Bid on the white gloves!, 2008

Andreas Slominski
untitled, 2004

Florian Slotawa
untitled, 2010

Florian Slotawa
untitled, 2010

Florian Slotawa
Hotelarbeiten, 1998/1999

Florian Slotawa
Hochlager, 2010

Christopher Williams
Afri-Cola (Ashtray)
Manufacturer: E. & A. Bückling, 6956 Neudenau, Germany
Date of production: 1980–89
Photography by the Douglas M. Parker Studio, Glendale, California
November 26, 2005, 2005