Markus Zimmermann (sculptor)
Markus Zimmermann is a German sculptor and performance artist.
Life
In 2000 after graduating from high school, Markus Zimmermann began studying fine arts at the Kunstakademie Münster, Germany, in the sculptors class of Timm Ulrichs. For winter semester 2002, he changed to Braunschweig University of Art to Bogomir Ecker. There he completed his studies in 2006 with a diploma and was Masterstudent the following year. During his study research trips to New Zealand, France and Ireland took place. He lives and works in Berlin and Hannover.Work
Starting from the Wunderkammern of the late Renaissance and the Baroque, Markus Zimmermann has been developing countless small sculptures since 2003. These impress with their wealth of detail and precise design. He combines different materials such as cardboard, paper, plastic films, foam with plaster, wax and paint into new futuristic shapes. The presentation of the small sculptures took place on large shelves or tables, in displays or empty shop windows as room-filling installations, reminding the observers of stores or shops.While the objects of the Wunderkammern are intended for viewing only, since 2006 Zimmermann has challenged the viewer with peep-boxes to take his art literally into their own hands. The lavishly designed boxes reveal fantastic landscapes and geometric spaces as they look inside. These boxes evoke connotations of theatrical stages or the Merzbau of artist Kurt Schwitters, likewise originating from Hanover. Lateral slits let light into the peep boxes and show the scenes in changing perspectives.
Since 2012 performances have followed. They are primarily characterized by playful interactions with the audience. Markus Zimmermann plays with the audience Mau Mau or bets for money; he destroys sacred objects of his childhood or asks the public to design sculptures themselves. The seemingly harmless performances cite strict rituals of the catholic liturgy and stage universal themes of mythology. In times of easily digitally produced effects and entertainment, Markus Zimmermann manages to create calm moments of mindfulness and presents. Free of ideological platitudes, he translates the views and demands of Joseph Beuys on social sculpture into action.
Since 2013, Markus Zimmermann has also appeared as the initiator of art projects in overarching art genres. In 2013, the Kunstfonds Foundation sponsored the project WELT OHNE ZEIT, a twenty-four-hour performance with 12 artists in the former Czech Cultural Center Berlin. As a team he develops and supervises the project IKONOSTASE in Munich, Berlin and at the Cebit in Hanover.
Zimmermann was one of the co-founders of the Berlin Arts Club in 2006. In 2013 Florian Dietrich, Martin Schepers and Markus Zimmermann founded the artist collective IKONOSTASE.
Awards
In 2010, Markus Zimmermann was awarded the ars viva prize of the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft.Exhibitions
2007Die Kunst der Sammelns, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf2008–zoom+, Künstlerhaus DortmundSchein, Galerie Birgit Ostermeier, BerlinAn einem Wochenende im September, Schwerin Str. 42, DüsseldorfBelieve me!, Kunst im Tunnel, DüsseldorfBitte schön!, Kunsthalle Münster
2009Idyllismus, Tanzschule, MünchenVerleihung Roelfs-Partner-Stipendium, Kunst im Tunnel, Düsseldorfverschachtelt, Junge Kunst e. V. Wolfsburg Out of the box, Museum van Bommel van Dam, VenloScales of the universe, Galerie Jeanroch Dard, ParisWer macht die Kunst?, hub:kunst.diskurs e.V. Hannover1000 x Ich, 1000 x Du, Tät, Berlin
2010Generating the Preview, Museum Sztuki LodzMagicgruppe Kulturobjek, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastrichtars-viva-Preis 2010 – Labor, Kunstsammlungen ChemnitzBewahrung und Verfall, Deutsches Technikmuseum BerlinLarger than life – stranger than fiction, 11.Triennale Kleinplastik, FellbachLeinen los, Herbstausstellung at Kunstverein HannoverDie Welt als Modell, Montag Stiftung Kunst und Gesellschaft BonnSchreitend, Hermannshof, Völksen, Völksen
2011From Trash to Treasure, Kunsthalle KielVerbrechen und Bild, Künstlerverein Walkmühle, Wiesbadenars-viva 10/11 Labor, Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
2012Magicgruppe Kulturobjekt, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen
201315 Jahre Junge Kunst, Junge Kunst, WolfsburgGlaube, Liebe, Hoffnung, Rubenstrasse 42, KölnLaterna Magica, Kunstverein Wolfenbüttel
2014Welt ohne Zeit – Turnover, performance at Czech Kulturzentrum BerlinIKONOSTASE II – Rettet die Wirtschaft, installation Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft, BerlinEpisode 7, another space, Copenhagen
2015SUPERFILIALE – marzipan pigs, installation and performance, Simultanhalle KölnSUPERFILIALE – Picknick am Berg, installation and performance, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, BerlinIKONOSTASE III – Praxis Freiheit, installation and performance at CeBIT, Hannover Karma Spin, Performance, frontviews gallery at Leipziger Str. 63, Berlin
2016Sukkot, Installation und Performance, Ausstellungsraum D21, Leipzigme and you, ARCA, Performance, Emscherkunst 2016 – Emscher Quelle and Dortmunder U me and you, Museum ON/OFF, Performance, Centre Georges Pompidou, ParisRuhestörung, Performance, Britzenale Berlin