“For me, art is my home, because wherever I am, I find inspiration.” – Gregor Hildebrandt
“I have always believed that the magic of certain places is inseparable from their silence, their tranquility, and their mystery.” – Luis Barragán
Commissioned by advertising executives Pancho Gilardi and Martin Luque, Casa Gilardi embodies the pioneering architect’s belief in silence, tranquility, and mystery. After a decade of professional inactivity, 74-year-old Barragán accepted the challenge in 1975, paving the way for Casa Gilardi, the last project that was built before his death. The exhibition at Casa Gilardi presented by Galeria Saenger offers a curated overview of Gregor Hildebrandt'’s work, featuring pieces that he selected or created related to the architect and the modernist house he designed.
Known internationally for transforming obsolete analog recording media—such as audio cassettes, VHS tapes, and vinyl records—into visual art forms like paintings, sculptures, and large-scale installations, Hildebrandt's conceptual work explores themes of memory, nostalgia, and the physical manifestation of intangible sound and film.
Hildebrandt's final piece for the show is Gilardi Lilie (2025), one of his rare reflective works: a shimmering still life of a large lily in a small modernist white vase, with a mirror-like surface. While considering a title for the exhibition, the artist realized that the Italian surname Gilardi is derived from the given name Gilaro, a diminutive of Gilio, meaning “lily.” Once he chose “Gilardi Lilien”, he realized he had to turn that idea into the show invitation and an artwork within this Barragan-designed home, often called a “living art piece” because it is more than just a house—it’s an experience that engages multiple senses, just like Hildebrandt’s captivating art.
Text by Paul Laster
