Franz Schmidt

From 8 September to 22 December 2023, the gallery will be showing for the first time a solo exhibition of works by Franz Schmidt entitled »TELEVISION«.

Work, living, leisure, consumption – from these and other spheres of life, the Berlin-based artist selects exemplary everyday objects that he translates into sculptures made of lacquered MDF. In the process, he transforms the objects to a subtle abstraction of minimalist appearance, changing proportions, details and colouring. For example, he builds technical appliances, washing machines, radios, televisions, a beverage dispender, a cash register or a sewing machine, which are partly presented on pedestals and, in their iconic character, evoke images of memories and arouse individual desires. But there are also celestial phenomena such as a yellow star or half a rainbow, taking on an unexpectedly material shape. In addition, the artist expands the arsenal of his objects with large-format black-and-white photographs – and thus creates a stage-setting that repeatedly evokes surprising perspectives and mental cross-connections.

The exhibition will open on Friday, 8 September in the presence of the artist.

VITA
 

1980
born in Berlin

2004-09
Academy of Fine Arts Münster,
master student of Prof. Katharina Fritsch

2007
German National Merit Foundation

2009
Sholarship for California, German National Merit Foundation

2018
Foundation Kunstfonds, working grant

2021
Cultural Projects Berlin, working grant, Senate Administration for Culture and Europe, Berlin

2022
Foundation Kunstfonds, working grant NeuStart Kultur

lives and works in Berlin

EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)

2023
Television, Rasche Ripken, Berlin (solo)
DIE GROSSE, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf

2022
Wall of Sound, Lage Egal, Berlin
Laden neu, Leiter gelb, Lage Egal, Berlin (solo)
FRANZ SCHMIDT, Dzialdov, Berlin (solo)

2020
Schwarz Weiß II, Städtische Galerie im Park, Viersen

2019
DIE GROSSE, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf

2018
Die Kunst geht nach Brot, Kunstraum Bäckerei Moabit, Berlin
Over het Verlangen en de Troost, Kunstenfestival
Watou, Belgium
DIE GROSSE, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf
10 Jahre 10 Dinge 10 Gäste, Rasche Ripken, Berlin

2017
Why not hug the Strangers, Dzialdov, Berlin

2016
Fresher than Fresh, Kunstraum Bäckerei Moabit, Berlin
New Skin for the old Ceremony, Dzialdov, Berlin
Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen

2015
Grand Finale, Lady Fitness, Berlin

2014
homo ludens, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin
Absout Sculpture #2, Lady Fitness, Berlin
DIE GROSSE, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf

2013
Sugar, KIT - Kunst im Tunnel, Düsseldorf

2012
HABEN, MMIII Kunstverein Mönchengladbach (solo)
Watch the gap, Raumstation Liebhartsgasse, Wien (solo)

2011
Schöne Wahrnehmung, Temporary Gallery, Cologne
In a favourable light, Galleria Nicoletta Rusconi, Milano
ZigZag, Wewerka Pavillon, Münster

2010
Los vigilantes de la playa, Galleria Nicoletta Rusconi, Milano
Tracker, Galerie Eva Bracke, Berlin

2009
Les portes du paradis, Galerie Eva Bracke, Berlin
Pimp your CV, Federal Art Institute, London
Aufriss, LWL-Landesmuseum, Münster
Kunststudenten stellen aus, Bundeskunsthalle Bonn

2008
Abgründige Oberfläche, FAK Förderverein Aktuelle Kunst, Münster
The Flamingo, Projekt Hafenweg 22, Münster (solo)

2007
El Manifesto de Santiago, Centro Cultural Matucana 100, Santiago de Chile

2006
Windmühle aus dem südlichen Teil des Jenseits, MMIII Kunstverein Mönchengladbach

2005
Geblieben um zu kommen, FAK Förderverein Aktuelle Kunst, Münster