MICHAEL SAILSTORFER: MAZE 62

The art critic Birgit Sonna is not alone in approaching the work of the sculptor Michael Sailstorfer within the context of his great success. This is no surprise considering Sailstorfer’s extensive participation in individual and group exhibitions, numerous awards received and the many renowned collections which have already purchased one of his works.

The creations of this artist who is well-established on the international exhibition scene are approachable and comprehensible even without specialised knowledge or instruction – and yet possess an undisputed formal density, a disconcerting multi-layered content structure and a manifestation of complex reflection. Frequently, the first glance is not decisive for the interpretation: it is advisable to venture a second glance. The observer is then able to discern that serious issues are concealed behind humorous aspects, gravity hints at a promise of buoyancy and raised eyebrows can also sometimes signify political profundity.

Michael Sailstorfer orients himself to the classical definition of sculpture, investigating the potential of expansion through light, sounds and smells. He utilises everyday materials and objects, transforming products of human manufacture through his own processes into artistic works with unimagined interpretative connections. For the KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen, he will focus on the Großer Garten, presenting an installation addressing the topic of homeland utopia.

Michael Sailstorfer
was born in Velden/Vils in 1979 and currently lives in Berlin. He studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich and at Goldsmiths College, University of London, completing his studies as a master student of Olaf Metzel in 2005. Since 2001, Sailstorfer has received annual invitations to participate in international group and individual exhibitions: during the last few years, his works were displayed in solo presentations in Germany in Berlin, Bremerhaven, Düren, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Friedrichshafen, Hanover, Kassel, Nürnberg, Pulheim and Straubing as well as in Brussels and Gent (Belgium), Milan (Italy), New York (USA), Oslo (Norway), Oxford (Great Britain), Salzburg (Austria), São Paulo (Brazil) and Sotteville-lès-Rouen and Paris (France). He also participated in events such as the Bienal del Fin del Mundo, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil 2009), the Bienal de Arte Contemporáneo de Sevilla (Spain 2008), the Triennale für Kleinplastik, Fellbach (Germany 2007), the Sharjah Biennial, Sharjah (United Arab Emirates 2007), the Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, Moss (Norway 2006), the International Triennale of Contemporary Art, Yokohama (Japan 2005), the Sydney Biennale, Sydney (Australia 2004), the Manifesta 5 San Sebastián (Spain 2004), the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, Liverpool (England 2004) and the Biennale Havana (Cuba 2003).

Michael Sailstorfer is the recipient of many prestigious awards and scholarships and is represented with works in both public and private collections including the Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Mark van Moerkerke (Ostend), My Private (Milan), Paolo Kind (London), Sabine DuMont Schütte (Cologne), Sammlung Boros (Berlin), Sammlung Goetz (Munich), Städelmuseum (Frankfurt am Main), Steven Cohen (New York) and the Vanharrents Collection (Brussels).

Curator Leonore Leonardy

Production: KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen

INSTALLATION
SA 1.6. - 22.6.2013
Großer Garten | Daily 9 - 20 h
Garden entrance fee