Hotel Drawings

Martin Kippenberger

Kippenberger let the stationary guide him. Over the course of his short life, he drew hundreds of works on Hotel Notecards he collected on his travels, often from hotels he never stayed in. Exceeding their origin as preparatory sketches for wider works, the hotel drawings became a constant source of reflection, almost diaristic in nature. Kippenberger drew self portraits from that day, surrealist renderings of his emotional state. He drew Frank Sinatra, scientists, graphic posters, cartoons, the hotels themselves, but while they are frenetic in their multitude, each taken alone offers a surprising calm. A staggering technical ability is evident, and a breadth of style remarkable, the story of the letterheads, and of a rambunctious, nomadic life that it tells, is offset but a profound sense of self, and of calmness within that self.

Wednesday 26th August

The Moon continues through the constellation of Capricorn, bringing an earthy quality to the day and encouraging us to give form to something new. As the Moon grows in light, this can be a beautiful moment to begin a project, prepare a new bed, make plans for the coming season, or simply take the first practical step towards something that has been waiting to emerge. The Moon also draws close to Pluto, which is moving retrograde through this region of the zodiac, creating an interesting image of beginning and returning at the same time. While the waxing Moon speaks of growth and becoming, retrograde Pluto can be taken symbolically as an invitation to look again at our foundations, transforming what already exists rather than always beginning from nothing. Every new beginning grows from what has gone before, from old roots, decomposed matter and seasons already passed.