and Guy Allott, Cara Benedetto, Norbert Bisky, Matthew Blaise, Douglas Boatwright, Vee Bozek, Edi Dubien, Oriane Durand, Mascha Jacobs (Dear Reader), Kris Knight, Sergio Matalucci, Bettina Mertel, Silke Nowak, Isabel Parkes, Gabriel Rossell Santillán, Anna-Lena Wenzel, Norbert Witzgall.

Mountains is pleased to present unputdownable, a group exhibition of selected and new works by Guy Allott, Norbert Bisky, Edi Dubien, Kris Knight, David Medalla, and Norbert Witzgall. Sharing the same genre and subject matter, these portraits all depict men*. The resulting 'community of bodies' aims to question a traditional idea of masculinity, a concept that – since Stonewall, and with feminism, postmodernism, etc. – has given way to controversial and emotionally discussed 'tessellated' notions of masculinity*ies. Despite the diverse emancipatory movements mentioned, it remains clear that tenderness, vulnerability and intimacy rarely seem to be available to men* as coping strategies. Instead, externalization, overemphasized rationality, violence, and control are still associated with 'the male' (particularly now, in the wake of a conservative backlash). What do men* feel they need to hold on to? 

The selection of paintings on display proposes to take up a search for delicate, questioning or dazzling images of masculinity*ies. While the portraits reflect the painters' individual perspectives and desires, the books presented alongside expand the spectrum of possible masculinity*ies – these volumes are the unputdownables of befriended authors, curators, artists and avid readers. The gallery is turned into a reading room, aiming to expand the reading and thinking of identities unfolding in the portraits and texts. On accompanying evenings, Mascha Jacobs (Dear Reader) and Oriane Durand (independent curator) will read from the books which will also be presented in a zine published for the exhibition.