AOA

Morpheus Mango Mau

Berlin
Sep 10 — Nov 01, 2025

MORPHEUS MANGO MAU
HELGA SCHMIDHUBER
10 SEPTEMBER – 1 NOVEMBER 2025
OPENING: 11 SEPTEMBER | 6 – 9 PM
AOA;87 BERLIN


PROGRAM:
TALK WITH CORD RIECHELMANN: 14 SEPTEMBER | 10:30 AM

Helga Schmidhuber’s paintings move between myth, dream, and organic materiality. Her images open up fragmentary, free landscapes in which meanings shimmer, horizons dissolve, and instinct overlays logic. They are tentative, open cosmoses that can never be fully deciphered.

At the center of her artistic practice is transformation: the dissolution of boundaries, the visualization of transitions, the tracing of archaic energies—not as a return to the past, but as a radical experience of the present. Her working method is processual, experimental, and sensually imbued—carried by a synesthetic perception and a deep fascination for biodiversity, natural forms, and their pictorial translation.

In her current cycle, “Morpheus,” predators, birds, and traces of micro-life encounter each other—not in confrontation, but in a paradoxical, peaceful coexistence. What is considered a tension in nature becomes a fragile balance in the image. Painting becomes a stage for simultaneous states: danger and beauty, presence and rapture, waking and dreaming. The works shimmer and vibrate—like moments just before awakening. It is no coincidence that the title refers to Morpheus, the ancient god of sleep.

The spectrum of her work ranges from delicate miniatures to large-format canvases. Time and again, her practice extends beyond the panel into the space: installation is a central element of her work—an attempt to transform image, object, and environment into permeable, breathing states.

Helga Schmidhuber studied painting at the Düsseldorf Art Academy under Dieter Krieg and Albert Oehlen. Her work has been exhibited at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the Museum Wiesbaden, and the CCA Kunsthalle Mallorca, among others. She has received numerous awards, including the Hans Platschek Prize for Art and Writing (2020) and a working scholarship from the STIFTUNG_Kunstfonds (2024).

Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025
mixed media on canvas, 220 x 190 cm | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber
Installation view: Morpheus Mango Mau, AOA;87 Gallery, Berlin, 2025 | Photo: Dotgain.
Installation view: Morpheus Mango Mau, AOA;87 Gallery, Berlin, 2025 | Photo: Dotgain.
Installation view: Morpheus Mango Mau, AOA;87 Gallery, Berlin, 2025 | Photo: Dotgain.
Installation view: Morpheus Mango Mau, AOA;87 Gallery, Berlin, 2025 | Photo: Dotgain.
Helga Schmidhuber Scarf Morpheus Mango Mau I and II, from Hel5 series, 2025, 240 x 30 cm, Edition 15 + 2 E.A. | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, 220 x 190 cm | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2024, mixed media and applications on canvas, 220 x 190 cm | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2024, mixed media on canvas, 240 x 190 cm | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, “Lamp”, from Hel5 series, 2018 – 2025, mixed media on drumhead ⌀ 58 cm, camera tripod, lamp socket, glass, textile, etc., dimensions variable | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, oak floater frame, 100 x 80 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, mounted on HDF board; oak batten, 100 x 80 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, mounted on HDF board; oak batten, 100 x 80 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, oak floater frame, 140 x 170 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, HDF board, 41 x 49 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, HDF board, 42.5 x 51 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2025, mixed media on canvas, HDF board, 44.5 x 26.2 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2024, mixed media on cardboard, oak frame; museum glass, 29.7 x 42 cm, 34.5 x 46.8 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2024, mixed media on cardboard, oak frame; museum glass, 29.7 x 42 cm, 34.5 x 46.8 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Morpheus series, 2024, mixed media on cardboard, oak frame; museum glass, 29.7 x 42 cm, 34.5 x 46.8 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Stripes series, 2024, mixed media on cardboard, black wood frame; museum glass, 29.7 x 42 cm, 33.8 x 46.8 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Stripes series, 2024, mixed media on cardboard, black wood frame; museum glass, 29.7 x 42 cm, 33.8 x 46.8 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Stripes series, 2024, mixed media on cardboard, black wood frame; museum glass, 29.7 x 42 cm, 33.8 x 46.8 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Yodada series, 2011, mixed media and applications on paper, white wood frame, and museum glass, 50 x 32.5 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Yodada series, 2011, mixed media on paper, white wood frame and museumglass, 50 x 32.5 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from About Horizons series, 2021, mixed media on cardboard, black wood frame, 42 x 29.7 cm, 46.8 x 34.5 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from About Horizons series, 2021, mixed media on cardboard, black wood frame, 42 x 29.7 cm, 46.8 x 34.5 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Petrichor – Deep Sea, 2017, mixed media and applications on silkscreen, black, wood frame, mount and museum glass, 42 x 39.5 cm, 62.5 x 59 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, No 10 from Krähen kommen – Titanweiß series, 2008, mixed media on hand-made paper, wood frame, 105 x 105 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2025, mixed media on book cover, „Himmelsbeobachtungen”, black wood frame, mount and museum glass, 20 x 29 cm, 36 x 44.7 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2025, mixed media on book cover „Blick durchs Fernrohr”, black wood frame, mount and museum glass, 20 x 28 cm, 36.5 x 43.5 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2025, mixed media on book cover „Engelhorn’s allgemeine Roman-Bibliothek”, black wood frame, mount and museum glass, 18 x 25.5 cm, 34 x 41.2 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2025, mixed media on book cover „Heimliches Volk”, black wood frame, mount and museum glass, 19.5 x 27.5 cm, 36.5 x 43.4 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2025, mixed media on book , cover„Wundertiere des Meeres”, black wood frame, mount and museum glass, 19.8 x 27.5 cm, 36.4 x 43.4 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2021, mixed media on book cover „Old Surehand”, black wood frame; museum glass, 36.5 x 45.5 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2021, mixed media on book cover „Kunst og Stil”, black wood frame; museum glass, 36.5 x 45.5 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2021, mixed media, on book cover „Der Mensch der Zukunft”, black wood frame; museum glass
36.5 x 45.5 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Wenig Zeit zwischen zwei Fingern series, 2021, mixed media on book cover, „Through the Postern Gate”, black wood frame; museum glass, 36.5 x 45.5 cm, framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Endemisches Kollegium series, 2014, collage on paper, oak frame and museum glass, 27.3 x 20.4 cm, 39.5 x 32 cm framed | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, Untitled, from Made in Denmark, 2025, Foil application on 3 teak tables, ceramic, 50 x 40,5 x 50,5 cm / 47 x 40 x 44,5 cm / 39,5 x 35,8 x 39,5 cm | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.
Helga Schmidhuber, „Lamp”, from Hel5 series, 2025, lamp base ceramic, textile, metal, peacock feathers, embroidery, cord, fox skulls, glass, pigment, PVC, enamel bowl, 100 x 38 x 38 cm | Photo: studio Helga Schmidhuber.