muja

Ruben Maria’s artworks consist of relics from his own daily life, using everyday (packaging) materials which he finds in the immediate vicinity of his studio, such as large quantities of cardboard that were leftover deliveries from an in-house online mail order company. The material serves him as
a transformative substance, which he deconstructs and remodels with various processes, making it manageable and finally rebuilt into sculptures. With his process, the artist removes the recyclable material cardboard from its original „cycle“ and thus addresses the mechanisms of recycling and sustainability. Through a process of shredding, submersion and compression of paper, the artist’s recent sculpture „Paper Panels“ take on a homogenous, smooth form reminiscent of concrete slabs. A stark contrast is created between the fragile materiality of the works and the impression they convey. Although seemingly industrialized, each panel is characterized by subtle distinctions, with details of colored specks pertaining to the blended papers used in each piece. Living and working in Zurich, Ruben Maria’s work is currently being shown in a group exhibition for Koenig Gallerie London, as well as an upcoming participation in ‚Jungkunst‘, an exhibition dedicated to emerging artists in Switzerland.