katharina fritschdeichtorhallen hamburg, germanyon 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.

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part Igroup of figures, 2006-2008 st. michael, skeleton feet, santa claus, giant vase, st. catherine, torso, figure of madonna, snake polyester, color image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I (detail) image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I heart of money, 1998 – 2000 image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I heart of money, 1998 – 2000 (detail) image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I exhibition view of woman with dog, umbrellas (light green, purple, black white), postcards (paris), 2004 polyester, aluminum, iron, color image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part Iexhibition view of woman with dog, umbrellas (light green, purple, black white), postcards (paris), 2004 polyester, aluminum, iron, color image © designboomkatharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I woman with dog, 2004 image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I woman with dog, 2004 (detail) image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I postcards (paris), 2004 image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I postcards (paris), 2004 image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I postcard (paris), 2004 image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I postcard (paris), 2004 image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I general view image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I octopus, 2006 / 2009 metal, polyester, paint, wood image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I brain image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I skull, 2006 / 2008 metal, polyester, paint, wood 120 x 120 x 160 cm image © designboom

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

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I newspaper illustration, 2006 (detail) silkscreen on sintra 141 x 200 cm

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I newspaper illustration, 2006 silkscreen on sintra 141 x 200 cm

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I newspaper illustration, 2006 silkscreen on sintra 141 x 200 cm

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I detail newspaper illustration, 2006 silkscreen on sintra 141 x 200 cm

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I newspaper illustration, 2006 silkscreen on sintra 141 x 200 cm

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I newspaper illustration, 2006 new york women’s opium club silkscreen on sintra 141 x 200 cmkatharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I cook, 2008 202 x 76 x 102 cm image © designboom

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

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I cook, 2008 (detail) 202 x 76 x 102 cm image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I general view image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I display case I and II image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I display stand I glass, aluminum, objects dating from 1979 – 1984 203 cm x 120 cm image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I display stand I (detail) glass, aluminum, objects dating from 1979 – 1984 203 cm x 120 cm image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I 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

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I 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

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I giant, 2008 polyester, color 196 x 95 x 70 cm image © designboom

postcard (CHF), 2008

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I giant, 2008 (detail) polyester, color 196 x 95 x 70 cm image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I giant, 2008 (detail) polyester, color 196 x 95 x 70 cm image © designboom

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I st. catherine, 2007 polyester, color 170 x 50 x 40 cm

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

katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I st. catherine, 2007 (detail) polyester, color 170 x 50 x 40 cm

photo(ivy), 2007 (detail) screen printing, plastic, color 280 x 400 cmkatharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I queen sized bed, 2009 dibond aluminum, wood, paint, paper 208 x 168 x 50 cm image © designboomkatharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I 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.