katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen - part I

katharina fritsch
deichtorhallen hamburg, germany
on now until february 7th, 2010


group of figures, 2006-2008
st. michael, skeleton feet, santa claus, giant vase, st. catherine, torso, figure of madonna, snake
polyester, color
image © designboom

designboom recently visited the deichtorhallen hamburg to view german artist katharina fritsch's
first major solo exhibition in germany since her inaugural show of the K21 in düsseldorf, 2001.
recognized for her large scale plastic, sculptural work, the grandiose space of the deichtorhallen
hamburg set the perfect stage for fritsch's life-size representations of humans, animals
and symbolic objects.

katharina fritsch's work is marked by a sarcastic humor in which she examines the world of
everyday life, tourism and consumption. her sculptures are usually cast in plaster, aluminum
or polyester and are finely revised copies of reality, a dreamlike exercise of emotions.
approximately 15 large installations provide an overview of the artist's work from the last decade,
which have never been previously showcased in germany. during the last few years, in particular,
she has dealt with photography and its conversion into monumental pictures which stem from
personal childhood memories. these are represented through unusually large silkscreen print,
juxtaposed with her life-size figures, which deal with reality - projections and clichés of everyday life.
amongst these more recent works are fritsch's well-known pieces from the 1980s and 1990s such as
the green 'elephant' (1987) and 'dinner party' (1988). fritsch closely collaborated with the deichtorhallen
to create a special architectural design for the exhibition, a movie-like sequence of spaces.
the result is a show that is a feast for the eyes - the intense colors and magnificent proportions
of fritsch's work, engrossing the viewer into her world.

the show is in cooperation with the kunsthaus zurich showcase and is a deichtorhallen exclusive.


group of figures, 2006-2008
st. michael, skeleton feet, santa claus, giant vase, st. catherine, torso, figure of madonna, snake
polyester, color
image © designboom


image © designboom


(detail)
image © designboom


heart of money, 1998 - 2000
image © designboom


heart of money, 1998 - 2000 (detail)
image © designboom


exhibition view of woman with dog, umbrellas (light green, purple, black white), postcards (paris), 2004
polyester, aluminum, iron, color
image © designboom


exhibition view of woman with dog, umbrellas (light green, purple, black white), postcards (paris), 2004
polyester, aluminum, iron, color
image © designboom


woman with dog, 2004
image © designboom


woman with dog, 2004 (detail)
image © designboom


postcards (paris), 2004
image © designboom


postcards (paris), 2004
image © designboom


postcard (paris), 2004
image © designboom


postcard (paris), 2004
image © designboom


general view
image © designboom


octopus, 2006 / 2009
metal, polyester, paint, wood
image © designboom


brain
image © designboom


skull, 2006 / 2008
metal, polyester, paint, wood
120 x 120 x 160 cm
image © designboom


newspaper illustration, 2006
scene of a snake in cage at the zoo
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


newspaper illustration, 2006 (detail)
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


newspaper illustration, 2006
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


newspaper illustration, 2006
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


detail newspaper illustration, 2006
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


newspaper illustration, 2006
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


newspaper illustration, 2006
new york women's opium club
silkscreen on sintra
141 x 200 cm


cook, 2008
202 x 76 x 102 cm
image © designboom

photo (schwarzwaldhaus), 2006 / 2008
280 x 275 cm
image © designboom


cook, 2008 (detail)
202 x 76 x 102 cm
image © designboom


general view
image © designboom


display case I and II
image © designboom


display stand I
glass, aluminum, objects dating from 1979 - 1984
203 cm x 120 cm
image © designboom


display stand I (detail)
glass, aluminum, objects dating from 1979 - 1984
203 cm x 120 cm
image © designboom


display stand II, 2001
glass, aluminum, objects dating from 1981 - 2001
203 cm x 120 cm
79 15/16 inches x 47 1/4 inches
image © designboom


display stand II, 2001 (detail)
glass, aluminum, objects dating from 1981 - 2001
203 cm x 120 cm
79 15/16 inches x 47 1/4 inches
image © designboom


giant, 2008
polyester, color
196 x 95 x 70 cm
image © designboom

postcard (CHF), 2008


giant, 2008 (detail)
polyester, color
196 x 95 x 70 cm
image © designboom


giant, 2008 (detail)
polyester, color
196 x 95 x 70 cm
image © designboom


st. catherine, 2007
polyester, color
170 x 50 x 40 cm

photo(ivy), 2007
screen printing, plastic, color
280 x 400 cm


st. catherine, 2007 (detail)
polyester, color
170 x 50 x 40 cm

photo(ivy), 2007 (detail)
screen printing, plastic, color
280 x 400 cm


queen sized bed, 2009
dibond aluminum, wood, paint, paper
208 x 168 x 50 cm
image © designboom


queen sized bed, 2009 (detail)
dibond aluminum, wood, paint, paper
208 x 168 x 50 cm
image © designboom

katharina fritsch was born in 1956 in essen germany.
she represented germany in the 46h venice biennale and has many solo exhibitions including the SF MoMA, tate modern, and dia center for the arts.
she currently lives and works in düsseldorf, germany.

you can view part II of katharina fritsch's exhibition here.