Paris Internationale - © Paris Internationale
Sweetwater - © Paris Internationale
Sweetwater

Sweetwater is a contemporary art gallery based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2018. The gallery works with a wide range of artists based both in Germany and abroad, with a focus on conceptual practices across media. In addition to a regular exhibition program in the gallery, Sweetwater also frequently participates in offsite projects and art fairs. The gallery currently represents seven artists: Christopher Aque, Sofia Defino Leiby, Luzie Meyer, Kayode Ojo, Jesse Stecklow, Hanna Stiegeler, and Constantin Thun. Sweetwater is a member of the International Galleries Alliance.

The gallery began operations on the third floor at Kottbusser Damm 7, a former apartment building converted to offices in the Kreuzberg neighborhood of Berlin. Between September 2018 and January 2021, Sweetwater presented solo exhibitions by Kayode Ojo, Christopher Aque, Jesse Stecklow, Gaby Sahhar, Luzie Meyer, Constantin Thun, and D’Ette Nogle at the space, as well as a number of group exhibitions. In April 2021, the gallery moved to its present street-level location at Leipziger Straße 56-58, part of the Komplex Leipziger Straße. At the current location, in addition to multiple group exhibitions, Sweetwater has hosted solo exhibitions by Kayode Ojo, Christopher Aque, Sofia Defino Leiby, Luzie Meyer, HC, and Megan Plunkett.

Leipziger Straße 56-58
10117 Berlin
Germany

At Paris Internationale 2022, Sweetwater presents a solo booth of new work by Christopher Aque (*1987, US). Aque’s practice connects desire and sexuality to the latent power structures and dynamics of public space. Through sculpture, photography and video, Aque’s practice often combines images or traces of individuals and urban sites, making evident the inherent vulnerability of private desires.

Six photographs in the booth are each framed in an acrylic box and linen passe-partout; they depict men on public transit, cities pictured from
afar, and flowers. The photographs themselves are gum bichromate prints, a labor-intensive process which requires each color to be individually exposed with UV light, resulting in a quality almost akin to a watercolor.

Also present in the booth will be a two- part sculpture consisting of kiln-formed glass atop acrylic pedestals. The slim, transparent plinths recall city skylines; the ripple in the glass references water as both a bodily biological fluid and as an ever-present element of urban life.

Growth (Poppies) - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Growth (Poppies), 2022

UV-C exposed gum bichromate print on paper in acrylic and linen passe-partout frame
20 1/8 x 14 3/4 x 1 3/8 in
51 x 37.5 x 3.6 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof

Growth (Canal) - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Growth (Canal), 2022

UV-C exposed gum bichromate print on paper in acrylic and linen passe-partout frame
20 1/8 x 14 3/4 x 1 3/8 in
51 x 37.5 x 3.6 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof

Civic (Train) - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Civic (Train), 2022

UV-C exposed gum bichromate print on paper in acrylic and linen passe-partout frame
20 1/8 x 14 3/4 x 1 3/8 in
51 x 37.5 x 3.6 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof

Growth (Thicket) - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Growth (Thicket), 2022

UV-C exposed gum bichromate print on paper in acrylic and linen passe-partout frame
20 1/8 x 14 3/4 x 1 3/8 in
51 x 37.5 x 3.6 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof

Civic (Tram) - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Civic (Tram), 2022

UV-C exposed gum bichromate print on paper in acrylic and linen passe-partout frame
20 1/8 x 14 3/4 x 1 3/8 in
51 x 37.5 x 3.6 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof

Growth (Oxeyes) - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Growth (Oxeyes), 2022

UV-C exposed gum bichromate print on paper in acrylic and linen passe-partout frame
20 1/8 x 14 3/4 x 1 3/8 in
51 x 37.5 x 3.6 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist’s proof

Echo - © Paris Internationale
Christopher Aque
Echo, 2022

Kiln-formed glass, acrylic
40 1/2 x 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 in
103 x 30 x 30 cm
Unique

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