Timo von Eicken – PROCRASTI NATION

Procrastination. In the unlikely event that you are unfamiliar with the term, it signifies what is commonly known as the fine art of postponing tasks until it’s (almost) too late. If you take the word apart, something entirely unexpected emerges: Procrasti Nation. A whole nation checks out and lets things slide. Go ahead and put off until tomorrow what you can do today. If you have a look around at the world’s most pressing issues, you get the feeling it’s already become the maxim of our time. With his paintings Timo von Eicken isn’t trying to go or think quite as far. He’s also not trying to make a political statement. “Procrasti Nation“ is rather the continuation and second installment of his successful show “Maybe Tomorrow“ that was shown in 2020.

One pandemic later numerous new large-scale collages are coming into view, that have mostly been created after long periods of procrastination during the lockdown. The paintings visualise what the self-proclaimed and passionate procrastinator Timo von Eicken means by saying: “Only the right amount of pressure gives way to the most intense images, thoughts, and ideas.“ A first glance at the paintings’ protagonists is also indicative of this statement. They are in pursuit of apparently futile tasks or ones that seem inappropriate given the depicted scenario. Who does a handstand in the face of a tornado’s approaching whirlwind or dances limbo in the office under the slid open drawer of a filing cabinet? A trademark of Timo von Eicken’s paintings are the good-looking nurses that come to the rescue of these seemingly deranged or infantile patients. Even though most of them don’t give any indication of needing anyone’s help. A tribute to one’s inner child? A call for more serenity? It’s most likely all off the above!

Putting off things for too long can result in losing sight of what one meant to do in the first place. An exhibition with Timo von Eicken’s unfinished works will definitely give the artist a reason to complete some pieces. We just had to stop ourselves from procrastinating its announcement first.

On display: September 21 – October 6, 2021