On the occasion of the presentation of Niclas Castello's new Cube Painting Sculptures, the artist and gallery owner Dirk Geuer talked about their future collaboration.

The role of the gallerist is one of the most important in the art world. It is a difficult connection between admiration for the artworks and hard selling. If gallery owners choose the right artist, they can change the course of art history. To represent an artist, the gallery owner must recognize the characteristics of the artwork and the artist's intentions. Long-term relationships are entered into and how this can take shape in a specific case. Dirk Geuer is the owner of the Düsseldorf gallery Geuer & Geuer and represents international names such as Bryan Adams, David LaChapelle, Stephan Kaluza, Heinz Mack, Dieter Nuhr, HA Schult, Sylvester Stallone, Günther Uecker, to name a few. Niclas Castello is an internationally successful artist. Born in Germany, he lives temporarily in New York and became known for the Kiss Sculptures and the Cube Painting Sculptures.

February 10, 2022

Interview Directory 

ART, DÜSSELDORF

Name: Dirk Geuer

Occupation: Owner Gallery Geuer.

In conversation: With his newest artist Niclas Castello

Niclas Castello: German contemporary artist,

creator of the Castello Cube, a 50 cm × 50 cm × 50 cm cube with a wall thickness of 6.3 mm. Weighing about 186 kilograms, the cube was made of 24-carat 999.9 gold, with notaries present during the manufacturing process to certify the authenticity of the material.

"I'm not the typical gallerist; the secondary market and business initiations don't interest me."

What makes for a successful gallery owner/artist connection and how did the connection with Niclas Castello come about?

I have been self-employed as a third-generation gallerist for 36 years. We work with some of the most renowned artists in the world. 

I'm not the typical gallerist; the secondary market and business initiations don't interest me - but sales are part of it, because employees have to be paid and money is important to get art into museums and galleries worldwide. I am interested in building a relationship with the artist. Friendship has to be earned, trust has to be built. I try to understand the artist and find out who he is and what he wants.

My job as a gallery owner is to find out what is happening in the world - not only to represent the works of renowned artists, but to discover those who will occupy a special position. That's how I learned that there was an artist who transforms a painting into a sculpture; that's how I met Niclas Castello.

"We all know about the dispute between critics and art historians whether the sculpture or the painting is more important."

To what extent do you know that the work of Niclas Castello is important?

We all know about the dispute between critics and art historians whether the sculpture or the painting is more important. What is important for me is whether the work does "something" to me, which person is behind the work of art.

Niclas Castello has an irrepressible creative power and a strong personality. Transforming the painting into sculpture, as he does, radically and uniquely, inspires me, as it does many collectors, critics and art experts. We will now walk the future path together.

"The images symbolize for me on the one hand the beautiful and on the other hand the destroyed."

Mr. Castello, when did you start your Cube Painting Sculptures series and can you say something about the creative process?

I started working on this series in 2016. For me it was important to make something that didn't exist before. 

First there is a canvas that is painted on the floor. I work with acrylic paints and oil paint. When the artwork is finished, it is framed like a normal painting. Then it is destroyed with force, the frame is destroyed and the picture also suffers damage. Then it is a matter of achieving the perfect shape of the destroyed picture in the cube. At the bottom of the cube there are also wooden deposits from the process of breaking the pictures.

The images themselves are full of symbolism and the viewer can figure out their own self while seeing them.

The cube itself is sharply angled at 90 degrees and is held in place with 24 karat gold plated screws. The images symbolize for me on the one hand the beautiful and on the other hand the destroyed.

Niclas Castello, Photo: Malte Krudewig, Rights at Geuer & Geuer

Cube Painting Sculptures by Niclas Castello, Photo: Malte Krudewig, Rights at Geuer & Geuer

Photo: Malte Krudewig, Rights at Geuer & Geuer