katharina fritsch at the deichtorhallen part I

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.

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.