This is a presentation of paintings in the showroom of the Danish design brand »Fritz Hansen« in Munich. Their minimal design classics and Peter Vahlefeld’s exuberant paintings clash but feel complementary at the same time—their range of reserved colors (Color Field painting) versus Vahlefeld’s color explosions (Abstract Expressionism) and their dynamic interaction, a constant interplay of autonomy and relation to one another, feel very much alive and intuitive. The exhibition is a journey exploring the immutable relationship between art and design across almost 500 square meters in a historical setting. Here, design and art transcend boundaries in a harmonious fusion of concepts, elegant shapes, boundless creativity and meticulously crafted materials.

The paintings know it is a stage and that performance is their highest power. There is no way here of distinguishing the actor from the role, the performance from its image. The artworks are grounded by their rich brushstrokes, while subtle text elements suggest unexpected narratives lurking underneath. This exhibition embodies a careful balance of modern simplicity and exuberant cacophony. The minimalist design is effortless in its expression compared to the abstract expressionism in the paintings. Peter Vahlefeld believes that the real truth is in the brushstroke. For him, it is large, bold strokes with brooms that do not refer distinctly to seen nature. The paint is the subject. The emotions of the strokes give the work life, always dedicated to gesture, chance and substance.

I am sitting at the table in the kitchen of Peter Vahlefeld’s downtown Berlin studio. The table was made by danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen, as were the chairs. The ideal room should invite people in to gather around, share thoughts, conversation and make memories. Was it the impeccable yet understated design of the table and the chairs by Arne Jacobsen that inspired him to making and printing pictures to overpainting them? Is the exhibition based on some of the virtues and some of the design DNA of Fritz Hansen about expressing yourself through either material, form, light or atmosphere?

Peter Vahlefeld focuses his practise on abstract surface manipulation, emphasizing process-based techniques. He primarily works with paint and prints, layering them with various mediums to develop texture and depth. By combining multiple smaller panels of printed surfaces together with thick and heavy oils into one whole piece, Vahlefeld’s technique focuses on creating small moments that contribute to the rhythm of a larger format like jazz.

The office chair is a personal statement as well as the paintings and artwork. Simplicity helps to clear the busy mind and quality reminds us that the objects we purchase must have longevity. Following this intuitive approach, Peter strives for balance without losing tension, for reduction without becoming boring, and following form, mass, proportion, rhythm, and structure—where Minimalism with a limited color palette meets abstract, nonrepresentational art, visualizing emotions and atmospheres.