From September 5, 2025, LAID BUG will present a solo exhibition by Steffen Kern.

Based in Munich, Germany, Steffen is an artist who creates intricate drawings using pencil and charcoal. He has previously held solo exhibitions at RUTGER BRANDT GALLERY (2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands) and GALERIE CHRISTIAN PIXIS (2019, Munich, Germany), and actively participates in group exhibitions and art fairs across Europe.

Steffen is strongly influenced by the principles of photography and applies various photographic techniques to his work. On the other hand, the subjects of his drawings are constructed from his own sketches, without using any real landscapes or photographic materials. Starting from simple sketches, he gradually refines visual elements such as contrast, reflection, and perspective to create a photographic quality.

In modern society, photography is a familiar medium, and we are exposed to a vast number of images every day. However, Steffen's theme is not the images themselves, but rather the “memory of images.” The images born from Steffen's imagination and memory are both familiar and eerie, depicting scenes from movies we have seen in the past or universal landscapes.

In this exhibition, Steffen's first solo exhibition in Japan, he will present works on the theme of “night.” “Night” has a romantic side, with its tranquility and twinkling stars, but it also evokes darkness and fear. This ambiguous duality is a theme deeply rooted in Steffen's drawing approach, which allows for free interpretation of images, as explained in Sigmund Freud's essay “Das Unheimliche (The Uncanny).”

The exhibition will feature 11 new drawings. This is a rare opportunity to experience Steffen Kern's world, where traditional mediums are elevated into sophisticated contemporary works. We invite you to come and see the exhibition.