Art full of surprises: Form and Trace” exhibition in Filderstadt!

Art full of surprises: Form and Trace” exhibition in Filderstadt!

The exhibition entitled “Form and Trace” will open in the Städtische Galerie Filderstadt on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 11:15 a.m. The two exhibiting artists, Jochen Warth, a 73-year-old steel sculptor from Nehren near Tübingen, and Helmut Anton Zirkelbach, a 62-year-old etching specialist from Engstingen, bring their works of art to a wide audience. Warth and Zirkelbach have been friends for 30 years and combine their creative talents in this unique exhibition.

Jochen Warth, who also performs as a musician in the blues duo JJ Blues Train, creates sculptures that consist of 10% creativity and 90% craftsmanship. His aim is to surprise the viewer; the sculptures are not titled to leave them open to interpretation. “I can’t be spontaneous in sculptures, unlike music,” explains Warth. Zirkelbach, on the other hand, has a different approach to art - his etchings often have detailed titles, such as "The apples shine inside rotten tree trunks", and he sees figurative art as a "school of seeing" for maintaining drawing skills.

Opening details and supporting program

The opening of the exhibition is welcomed by Mayor Falk-Udo Beck and introduced by cultural scientist Florian Stegmaier. The event will be accompanied musically by the guitar duo Ella and Arne Dingler. The exhibition can be seen from June 15 to July 13, 2025 and entry is free. The gallery is open on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In addition to the exhibition “Form and Trace”, Jochen Warth will be on display on March 16, 2025 with another exhibition “In the beginning” in the producers’ gallery Pupille in Reutlingen. This shows his sculptures together with paintings by Ulrike Holzapfel. Another highlight in Warth's artistic work is the inauguration of his latest sculpture on Wulle-Platz in Nehren, which took place on July 15, 2023 and represents an abstract form made of Corten steel and stainless steel that describes space and symbolizes openness.

Artistic diversity and commitment

Warth's artistic commitment is well anchored in the region. He is not only active as a visual artist, but also as a musician. His first album entitled “Treat Me Like a Dog” contains 14 blues tracks and is available both online on Soundcloud and at his concerts. Warth also recently gained membership in the Royal Society of Sculptors (RSS) in Great Britain, one of the oldest and largest sculpture organizations in the world.

The works of Helmut Anton Zirkelbach, who has a particular penchant for creating “joyful power and pulsating atmospheres” in his etchings, offer another creative aspect of the exhibition. While his “Allerleigrau” series avoids representational elements, Zirkelbach uses colors in his “Book of Hours” works to create emotions and atmospheres.

The convergence of diverse art forms and personal stories presented in the exhibition “Form and Trace” promises a deep insight into the creative collaboration of two established artists who are connected by their passion for art.