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Ralph Goertz curates PHOTO RHINE RUHR at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
21 March - 14 June 2020
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
The exhibition SUBJECT and OBJECT. For the first time, PHOTO RHINE RUHR is centered around the relationships between the different photographic positions which have developed in the areas of the Rhineland and the Ruhr and their art academies based there since the 1960s. Special about this approach is that due to the fact of such a rich photo scene in western Germany, which has repeatedly produced new and innovative artistic positions with very different photographic approaches over the past 70 years.
Curated by Ralph Goertz with Gregor Jansen and Dana Bergmann.
The Standard Los Angeles, 2000 © Candida Höfer / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2020
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IKS producing film on Angelika Kauffmann
30 Jan. - 24 May 2020
Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf
The Kunstpalast dedicates a major overview exhibition to Angelika Kauffmann (1741–1807), the most famous female artist in the age of Enlightenment and Sentimentalism.
A significant number of the approximately 100 paintings, drawings and sculptures will be presented to the public for the first time. Angelika Kauffmann, according to J. G. Herder the “possibly most cultivated woman in Europe”, was a liberal-minded neoclassical artist highly acclaimed throughout Europe. Admired for her artistic talents, her broad education and impeccable character, Kauffmann enjoyed a career that, for female artists at the time, was unprecedented. She made a name for herself with her remarkable early works, received artistic training in Italy and came to fame and fortune in London as a history painter and portraitist. Later, the astute and well networked businesswoman opened one of the most sought-after studios in Rome.
In cooperation with the restoration center Düsseldorf and curator Dr. Bettina Baumgärtel, Ralph Goertz is producing a short film to give a deeper inside view on the way Angelika Kauffmann did paint. Many thanks!
Happy NEW YEAR 2020!
3 Exhibitions
3 New Films
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Bieke Depoorter at NRW-Forum
22 November 2019 – 16 February 2020
How close can a photographer get to the people they portray? What is their role with regards to their subject, and what responsibility do they assume? Bieke Depoorter’s artistic work is based on her relationships with people and her own position as a photographer. From November 22, 2019 to February 16, 2020, the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf is showing the most comprehensive solo exhibition to date of the Belgian Magnum photographer’s work in Germany. Comprising five series from 2015 to 2019, the exhibition presents the photographer, who was born in Belgium in 1986, as an artist at a turning point in her career.
Depoorter explores current social issues and questions her role as a photographer, as well as the limits of her medium, across five topical projects, some of which are ongoing
Ralph Goertz met the photo artist for an interview. Many thanks!
photo: Ralph Goertz © IKS-Medienarchiv
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Louisa Clement at Ludwig Forum Aachen
Remote Control
27.09.19–26.01.20
What defines a person in the digital age? The optimization and manipulation of the body through technical and medical interventions raises questions about human identity, which Louisa Clement explores in her artistic work. Her photographs, videos, installations, sculptures and virtual reality works reflect our daily reality in a seductive and at the same time inscrutable way. The focus mostly lies on the body itself – fragmented, anonymized and alienated, it becomes the symbol of a “new human being” in a digitalized world. Clement’s works are the results of an exciting interchange of virtuality and reality, absence and presence.
With this must-see exhibition the IKS is proud to present a new trailer format, which has been developed for social media platforms.
Please watch it on Instagram!
photo: Ralph Goertz © IKS-Medienarchiv
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Park Seo-Bo and Minjung Kim at Langen Foundation
29 Sept 2019 - 29 March 2020
The Langen Foundation is pleased to present the first solo exhibitions in Germany by Park Seo-Bo (b. 1931) and Minjung Kim (*1962). Regarded as one of the leading figures in contemporary Korean art, Park Seo-Bo is credited as being the father of the ‘Dansaekhwa’ (Korean Monochrome Painting) movement. Born in 1931 in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, Park was part of a generation that was deeply affected by the Korean War (1950–53) which divided the country into North and South.
Minjung Kim's abstract paintings are created using layers of Hanji – a traditional Korean paper made from the inner bark of mulberry trees. Using the rhythm of her breath on a lit incense stick, she gently and rhythmically burns the edges of each individual strip, and using a traditional Korean gluing technique painstakingly collages these strips, layer by layer, onto a larger Hanji surface.
We met both artists for an interview and to produce a trailer in order of the Langen Foundation. Many thanks!
Park Seo-Bo
Minjung Kim
photos: Ralph Goertz © IKS-Medienarchiv
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New Documentary in occasion of "Soulmates. Alexej von Jawlensky and Marianne von Werefkin"
Lenbachhaus Munich / Museum Wiesbaden
The two important artists Alexey von Jawlensky and Marianne von Werefkin are one of the most important figures of Expressionism. For almost thirty years they were closely linked in life and work. Together with Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter they founded the "New Artist Assosiation Munich" and are considered as artistic pioneers for the development of Expressionism in Europe.
The film gives an inside view onto life and work of the two exceptional artists and visited the original locations in St. Petersburg, Munich, Murnau, Oberstdorf, St. Prex, Ascona and Wiesbaden. The film (60min.) by Ralph Goertz was produced for the exhibition SOULMATES at the Lenbachhaus Munich and Museum Wiesbaden. In collaboration with Annegret Hoberg and Roman Zieglgänsberger.
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IKS goes Guggenheim Bilbao
Thomas Struth Documentary by Ralph Goertz
October 2, 2019 - January 19, 2020
Thomas Struth (b. 1954, Geldern, Germany) receive their signature character from the questions he asks himself—and his viewers—about the relevance of public space, the unifying momentum of family ties, the significance of nature and culture, and the limits and possibilities of new technologies. The Guggenheim Bilbao presents a major exhibition on the German photo artists and also presents the documentary by Ralph Goertz, who accompanied Struth over 10 years with his camera.
photo: Ralph Goertz © IKS-Medienarchiv
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IKS produce new film for Schirn Frankfurt
Hannah Ryggen. Woven Manifestos
26 September – 12 January 2020
Schirn Frankfurt
Hannah Ryggen weaves stories of striking topicality. Her monumental tapestries bravely tackle the fundamental issues of life in society today: the atrocity of war, the abuse of power, the dependence on nature and the relation to family as well as fellow men and women. Living on a small self-sufficient farm on the west coast of Norway, the Swedish-Norwegian artist created a powerful, politically inspired oeuvre. She launched spectacular visual attacks on Hitler, Franco, and Mussolini and made powerful statements of support to the victims of Fascism and Nazism.
The IKS was asked to produce an exhibition film in occasion of the exhibition. Many thanks!
Now online!
Hannah Ryggen, Blood in the Grass, 1966 © Hannah Ryggen
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Liquid Bodies at Philara Collection
Vanessa Conte, Stefanie Heinze, Zsófia Kersztes
6 September - 27 Oktober 2019
Philara Collection
The exhibition Liquid Bodies combines the artistic positions of Vanessa Conte, Stefanie Heinze, and Zsófia Keresztes. They are based on a dynamic, transformative, associative, feminist approach to the negotiation of bodies and objects.
"99 Seconds of:"
Foto: Paul Schlöpfer © Philara
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IKS at Royal Photographic Society
The director of IKS, Ralph Goertz, met four of the most influencal representatives of British Documentary Photography on his trip through England. At the Royal Photographic Society he met with Marketa Luskacova and Ken Grant. But next to them he met also with Peter Mitchell and John Myers. Many thanks!
Next to a documentary Ralph Goertz is working on an exhibition on "British Documentary Photography since the 1970s".
John Myers © IKS-Medienarchiv
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Norbert Tadeusz at Museum Kunstpalast
29 Aug 2019 - 2 Feb 2020
The Dortmund-born artist studied with Joseph Beuys at the Art Academy Düsseldorf and soon stood out with his figurative and figural painting, which clearly distinguished his work from the conceptual, minimalist or abstract approaches of fellow students such as Imi Knoebel, Blinky Palermo, Reiner Ruthenbeck or Katharina Sieverding.
Tadeusz had a strong formative influence on the Düsseldorf art scene with his idiosyncratic style of painting. His at times drastic depictions in his often large-scale pictures invariably leave a strong impression on the viewer. Tadeusz shows objects from unusual angles, and his figures are often depicted in extreme postures. The formal structure of his paintings and watercolours often incorporates elements of abstract colour field painting.
Between 2000 and 2010 Ralph Goertz was allowed to accompany the painter with his camera. A documentary will coming end of the year.
Norbert Tadeusz painting one of his large scale pintings for his pavilion at Museumsinsel Hombroich
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One Million views on YouTube
The video channel of the IKS, with its short films and trailers on its own YouTube channel, broke through the magic limit of 1,000,000 views! Now the IKS runs one of the most successful YouTube channels of a cultural institution in Germany. Many thanks!!
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IKS invited to Foto Biennale in Australia
Two documentaries of the IKS were invited to the upcoming Ballarat International Foto Biennale in Australia. The films on German photo artists CANDIDA HÖFER and THOMAS RUFF by Ralph Goertz, director of the IKS, are intimate portraits of the famous artists from Duesseldorf Photo School and are on view for the first time in Australia from 24 August on. Many thanks!
photos © IKS-Medienarchiv
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Martin Parr Retrospektive one of the best in Europe
What an honor! The newspaper DIE WELT announced the MARTIN PARR RETROSPECTIVE, curated by Ralph Goertz, at NRW-Forum Duesseldorf at one of the nine best exhibitions of this summer in Europe. Next to Rembrandt in Dresden, Keith Haring in Liverpool, Arthur Jafa in Stockholm and Berthe Morisot in Paris, Martin Parr in Düsseldorf counts as another highlight of the summer 2019. Many thanks!
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Hedda Schattanik & Roman Szczesny at Philara Collection
amor fati
5 July 2019 - 28 July 2019
Hedda Schattanik and Roman Szczesny have officially been working as a collective since 2014. In their installation video works, they interweave cinematographic elements with surreal animation, literature, drama, sculpture, photography, and drawing. The focus of their artistic examination is the relationship between natural and symbolic order as well as the representation and analysis of existential problems arising from questions of human identity. Rejecting linear narrative structures, they develop a narrative of asymmetric structures that superimpose future, past, and states of being.
The title amor fati refers to a maxim of Friedrich Nietzsche that he formulates in the fourth book of The Gay Science (Die fröhliche Wissenschaft), postulating "the ethical-aesthetic manifestation of a fatalism intended to overcome nihilism"1.
We met the artists for an interview. Many thanks.
"99 Seconds of:"
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Opening of Martin Parr Retrospective a great success
Around 1,200 visitors came to the opening of the largest retrospective so far by British photographer Martin Parr at NRW Forum Düsseldorf. In addition to an enormous amount of media representatives - over 40 journalists and TV teams from WDR, ARD, arte and Deutsche Welle - long lines of visitors at the Ehrenhof created an unforgettable atmosphere.
After two years of preparation curator Ralph Goertz was overjoyed to open the exhibition in the presence of the British star photographer and numerous allotment gardeners.
Martin Parr and curator Ralph Goertz
photo: Isabel Hernandez © IKS
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IKS designed new Martin Parr catalogue
In occasion of the largest Martin Parr Retrospective in Germany at NRW-Forum Duesseldorf, Martin Parr created a new and touching series on German Allotment Gardeners. The catalogue was edited by Ralph Goertz, curator of the exhibition. Concept and design was made by IKS in co-operation with the Martin Parr studio. Many thanks!
Published by Koenig Books, London
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Ralph Goertz curates major exhibit on Martin Parr
First Retrospective in Germany
19 July - 10. November 2019
NRW-Forum Düsseldorf
The director of the IKS, Ralph Goertz, curates the first retrospective on the exceptional british photographer Martin Parr in Germany. Martin Parr came to Duesseldorf in 2018 for four days to shoot a new series on German Allotment Gardeners. Next to his famous series like Bad Weather, The Last Resort, Mexico, Luxury, Life's a Beach, Common Sense and Thinking of England, the new series Kleingärtner will be part of the Martin Parr Retrospective at NRW-Forum Duesseldorf. After exhibitions on Joel Meyerowitz, Peter Lindbergh and Garry Winogrand, curator Ralph Goertz is proud to present Martin Parr as another master of photography in Duesseldorf ... But more is not yet revealed.
photo: Dirk Rose © IKS-Medienarchiv
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Thomas Rentmeister at the Kunstverein Ruhr
PUTPUTPUT
June 17 to September 8, 2019
The plastic work of the living in Berlin and teaching in brown silence Thomas Rentmeister is characterized by its unorthodox, as well as highly sensitive use of materials. He became known for the meaningful use of everyday materials such as Penatencreme, Nutella and potato chips, as well as the convincing sculptural use of used white refrigerators. There is always a new surprising sense dimension that builds on the familiar objects and materials and yet opens up a hitherto hidden access to the world. Thomas Rentmeister plans an installation made of expanded metal based on the space and its inner city location.
We met the artist during the installation of his new work for an interview.
99 Seconds of:
photo: Ralph Goertz © IKS-Medienarchiv
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IKS invited to Photo Festival Athen
13 June - 28 July 2019
Benaki Museum Athen
We are very proud that the catalogue of the exhibition "Two Rivers. Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth" was announced as the finalist of the "Photobook Exhibition" as part of the PHOTO FESTIVAL ATHEN. The book will be exhibited from 13 June till 28 July at the Benaki Museum in Athen.
Design and concept was created by Ralph Goertz, director of IKS, and produced by the IKS.
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Curator's tour by Ralph Goertz
"Two Rivers. Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth"
01. and 20. Juni, 12am.
NRW-Forum Düsseldorf
Curator Ralph Goertz leads through the exhibition "Two Rivers. Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth" and will tell a lot of interesting facts about the two photographers and the medium of photography in addition to anecdotes.
photo © Katja Illner / NRW-Forum
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IKS producing trailer for Museum Folkwang
Virginia Lee Montgomery
THE PONY HOTEL
9 May – 23 June 2019
In the series 6 ½ Weeks Museum Folkwang presents the first institutional solo show by Virginia Lee Montgomery (born 1986) to be held in Europe. Her video piece PONY HOTEL (2018) brings together symbolically charged elements in various combinations and interactions that open up a multitude of associations: a hand with manicured finger Danish pastry, white syrup drops onto a watch, braids in several variations – sometimes made of blond or coloured strands, other times suspended as if bodiless – develop a life of their own. The pony tail is the key protagonist in PONY HOTEL and simultaneously visualizes an actual aspect of Montgomery’s own work. Aside from her work as an artist Montgomery freelances as a graphic facilitator and travels throughout the United States to conferences where she provides the live visualization. She often uses the hotel room she stays in as the setting for her videos. Then in the studio in a fast edit she combines the sequences with an unusual soundtrack that consists of a mixture of background noises and sounds from nature. The resulting interplay of audio and visual elements produces an enigmatic, surreal atmosphere.
Isabel Hernandez met the artist for an interview.
Trailer
photo: Isabel Hernandez © IKS-Medienarchiv
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Andreas Schmitten at Philara Collection
The Duesseldorf based artist Andreas Schmitten is on view at Philara Collection till 16 June 2019. This video is the second cooperation between Philara and the IKS.
Andreas Schmitten develops his sterile architectural hybrids from urban borrowings, model making and set design. He transforms windows and shop fronts, the skeleton to every urban city, into sculptural stagings. They do not hide their anthropogenic construction, but highlight a humane blank space.
Schmitten combines coloured fabric arrangements with glossy or dull artefacts, that resonate with profane objects or works of historical art pieces.
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Opening of Two Rivers a great success
Two Rivers: Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth in the NRW Forum 29 March - 7 July 2019
"This exhibition by Joachim Brohm and Alec Soth in the NRW Forum is sensational."
Helga Meister, Westdeutsche Zeitung, 29.03.2019
After more than two years of preparation, on 28.03. the exhibition "Two Rivers: Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth" opens at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf. The exhibition was curated by Ralph Goertz, head of the IKS, as a dialogue between two internationally known photographers and shows a total of 10 series by Joachim Brohm and Alec Soth.
Thank you for the wonderful opening!
Trailer
frtl: Joachim Brohm, Alec Soth, Ralph Goertz
Photo: Isabel Hernandez © IKS-Medienarchiv
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New documentary on Alec Soth
Alec Soth‘s first major publication “Sleeping by the Mississippi” counts as one of the most important series of contemporary photography.
In occasion of the exhibition “Two Rivers. Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth”, curator and filmmaker Ralph Goertz met the artist at his studio in St. Paul and was allowed to accompany him while he was working with his 8x10 camera.
At his studio Soth presented his famous series like Songbook and Niagara. He talked about his work, his artistic approach and how he reflects the media itself. A very rare inside view!
Published with Koenig books, London.
ISBN: 978-3-96098-542-6
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Ralph Goertz presents Alec Soth and Joachim Brohm at NRW-Forum
After two years of preparations the exhibition "Two Rivers: Joachim Brohm / Alec Soth", conceived and curated by Ralph Goertz (head of the IKS) will open on March 28th, 2019 at 7 pm at NRW Forum Düsseldorf. With a total of 10 series by the two internationally renowned photographers, the exhibition combines also two of the most important photographic positions of artistic documentary photography. On view are "Sleeping by the Mississippi", "Niagara", "Songbook" and "Tokyo, 2015" by Alec Soth and the series "Ruhr", "Culatra", "Ohio", "Typology", "Dessau Files "and the world premiere of "Flash Ohio" a portrait series from 1983/84 by Joachim Brohm.
Contemporary photography at the highest level!
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IKS and Philara Collection starting collaboration
The Düsseldorf based Philara collection is considered one of the most important collections of young and contemporary art in Germany. Gil Bronner, collector, and Ralph Goertz, head of the IKS, have agreed on a collaboration that focuses primarily on the cinematic documentation of the exhibitions at the Philara Collection. Right at the beginning of the cooperation, Ralph Goertz and Isabel Hernandez met the German photo artist Ricarda Roggan at her exhibition "Ricarda Roggan, Ex Machina".
We are glad about the collaboration!
Trailer
Isabel Hernandez mit Ricarda Roggan
photo: Ralph Goertz
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IKS at Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck
Two documentaries by Ralph Goertz
The Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck presents two films of the IKS at the exhibition "Otto Piene. Alchemist und Himmelsstürmer" from 17 March, 2019 - Jan. 05, 2020. We are especially proud that our cinematic documentation of the "Proliferation of the Sun" and the documentary "Otto Piene: Between Fire and Light" by Ralph Goertz will be shown as an installation. Ralph Goertz, head of the IKS, accompanied Otto Piene with the camera for over 15 years and created a unique document about the co-founder of the ZERO Group. The exhibition catalog also contains numerous photo documents from the IKS archive, which will be published for the first time.
The Proliferation of the Sun
Otto Piene at his Silo in Groton, Massachusetts
Photo: Ralph Goertz © IKS-Medienarchiv
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IKS at Fundación Juan March in Madrid
The Madrid based Fundación Juan March presents a rare film document by IKS at their exhibition "Playing Art. Education, Art and Design" (22 March - 23 June 2019). The short film "STUDIO PIET MONDRIAN" was filmed at the Mondriaanhuis Amersfoort, where they made a copy of the original studio by Piet Mondrian in Paris.
Trailer
