Adrian Ghenie is one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation. He is interested in the dangers and catastrophes caused by the ideologies of the 20th century, which the artist describes as the century of “humiliation.” The gloomy setting of his paintings and the deformed figures reveal the physical and psychological injuries caused by dictatorship and war. In the group of current charcoal drawings, Ghenie transfers his theme to the present and deals with the effects of digital media on people. The now extensive oeuvre of drawings and collages plays a central role in the pictorial alienation through motif montage and abstraction, which is presented for the first time in the Dresden Kupferstich-Kabinett in its development from the beginnings to the present day.

Adrian Ghenie (*1977 in Baia Mare, Romania), is one of the most celebrated painters of his generation. His work is considered "posthumously born" in the Nietzschean sense, blending past influences with contemporary themes. Ghenie is known for merging personal, political, and art historical themes, combining abstract and figurative elements, and exploring the possibilities of his medium. He draws on personal memories, art historical references, film stills, and internet visuals.