For Paris Internationale 2026, Sperling presents a solo exhibition by Berlin-based Scottish artist Andrew Gilbert. At its center is a sculptural installation depicting a giraffe devouring a colonial officer and Max Beckmann – an image that is at once grotesque and incisive, and emblematic of Gilbert’s engagement with the history of art and the afterlife of the British Empire.

The sculpture is accompanied by a selection of drawings and paintings that exemplify his distinctive visual language. Gilbert’s practice intertwines historical fact with fiction, merging the visionary with the absurd. Recurring motifs of colonial violence are revisited to expose their cyclical nature and ongoing relevance. Through dark humor and often stark imagery, Gilbert challenges dominant (Western) narratives and unsettles nostalgic readings of imperial history.

Andrew is Trapped in Tiger Fur Church, 2025, Sperling, Munich, photos: Sebastian Kissel

https://www.sperling-munich.com/exhibitions/andrew-is-trapped-in-tiger-fur-church