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Martin KippenbergerGerman painter, sculptor and photographer
Date of Birth: 25.02.1953
Country:  Austria |
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Biography of Martin Kippenberger
Martin Kippenberger was a German artist, sculptor, and photographer, and a representative of the Neue Wilde movement. He was known for his numerous works in a wide range of styles and media, as well as his provocative behavior and heavy drinking.
Early Life and Education
Martin Kippenberger was born on February 25, 1953, in Dortmund, Germany. He studied at the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Hamburg from 1972 to 1976. Although he was not directly taught by Sigmar Polke, Polke's influence had a significant impact on Kippenberger's artistic development. After completing his education, Kippenberger spent some time living in Italy.
Artistic Career
While initially working with painting, Kippenberger also began exploring other media such as sculpture, collage, photography, and installation. In 1978, he moved to Berlin and became one of the organizers of the "Büro Kippenberger," where he curated exhibitions for young artists.
In 1979, Kippenberger exhibited his work at Kunsthaus in Hamburg, titled "Kommen, Kucken, Kaufen" ("Come, Look, Buy"). He lived in Paris in 1980 and participated in the exhibition "Panorama Germany" in 1981. In 1984, he took part in the art exhibition "Von hier: 2 Monate neue deutsche Kunst in Düsseldorf" ("From Here: 2 Months of New German Art in Düsseldorf") and became a member of the Lord Jim Lodge, along with Jörg Schlick, Wolfgang Bauer, and Albert Oehlen.
In 1985, Kippenberger exhibited "Buying America and Selling El Salvador" at Metro Pictures Ltd in New York. The large installation included numerous sculptures and challenged notions of order, rationality, and the need for unity. In 1988, he participated in the Venice Biennale.
From 1992 onward, Kippenberger gave art lectures at universities in Kassel, Amsterdam, Nice, and Yale University. In 1996, he was awarded the Käthe Kollwitz Prize. In 1997, he participated in the Documenta 10 contemporary art exhibition in Kassel. Unfortunately, Kippenberger passed away on March 7, 1997, in Vienna due to chronic alcoholism.
Artistic Style and Legacy
Kippenberger's artistic approach was characterized by creating provocative, unsettling, and sometimes humorous works. Beneath the surface, his pieces addressed serious questions about the moral responsibility of the artist, values and beliefs of Western culture, and the nature of human destruction.
In 1987, Kippenberger integrated a painting by Gerhard Richter, which he had purchased, into the tabletop of a coffee table, raising questions about the social function, value, and status of art. His works adorned the German Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003. In 2006, a major retrospective exhibition of Kippenberger's work was organized at Tate Modern in London.
Kippenberger's art, often provocative and nonconformist, falls within the movement of Neue Wilde. Much of his work was produced while under the influence of alcohol. His reputation and influence grew after his death, leading to several major retrospectives, including the exhibition at Tate Modern in 2006 and "The Problem Perspective" at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2008 (later shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2009).
