stocubo | 44flavours in the stocubo showroom

in zu Besuch bei, Apr 23

For Gallery Weekend Berlin, the stocubo Showroom in Berlin-Mitte hosts an exhibition by 44flavours—featuring paintings, ceramics, and objects that embody what the duo has stood for over twenty years.

Sebastian Bagge and Julio Rölle met during their studies — their first joint project followed in 2003: a magazine called 44Flavours. Since then, they have been a well-rehearsed duo.

44flavours paint on anything they can find: Canvas, cardboard, vases from the flea market, walls anywhere in the world. Each material becomes a starting point, and each work a response to the previous one.

During a visit to their studio, we were able to discover their latest works and talk to them about their art, their working process and the stories behind the works.

You've been a duo since 2003 — which of you actually persuaded whom back then?

Julio:

It was a very natural coming together during our studies. We complemented each other well, our first project was a magazine, a publication that brought together different media. Then there were exhibitions, parties, friends with music. At some point, we moved on from Cologne to Berlin.

Does the name 44Flavours have a history?

Sebastian:

I was watching a Disney movie in which an ice cream vendor appeared — his truck said "44Flavors". I made a note of the name and it just fitted. Years later, we photographed the ice cream trucks in New York and turned them into an illustration. We just kept the name.

What does your work process look like?

Julio:

It's like ping pong — one does something, the other reacts to it. I come from a painting background, Sebastian from graphics and typography. We work with a common formal language, the "alphabet of form": Certain shapes appear again and again and mean something to both of us, almost like words or signs.

We work with a common formal language, the "alphabet of form": Certain shapes appear again and again and mean something to both of us, almost like words or signs.

What's the strangest thing you've ever painted on?

Sebastian:

The boat was very special — an old transport boat from Hamburg without its own engine, constantly on the move. And a floating festival stage in the Wadden Sea, because music is a great source of inspiration for us.

Photo: ©44Flavours

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Photo: ©44Flavours

Photo: ©44Flavours

What would be your dream object that is still waiting to be transformed?

Julio:

A spaceship would be great — even if the person who builds it probably doesn't accept commissions. But a hot air balloon would also appeal to us: the materiality is totally exciting, the fabric has a beautiful drape, and when it comes together and the painting folds with it, something completely new is created again.

stocubo is modular, changeable, stackable — if you had to turn it into an art installation, what would it be?

Sebastian:

We could work on the surfaces and create changeable sculptures — the geometric system is very grateful for that. And the playful aspect has a parallel to our work: we plan precisely, but only decide a lot on site. It would also be exciting to use the cubes as plinths on different levels. To lift works into the space instead of presenting them flat.