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Christopher Winter (artist)

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Christopher Winter
Photograph of Christopher Winter
Winter in 2014
Born (1968-05-31) 31 May 1968 (age 56)
Kent, England
EducationHastings College of Arts
Camberwell College of Arts
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
Websitewww.christopher-winter.com

Christopher Winter (born 31 May 1968) is an English contemporary artist. In addition to painting and drawing, both abstract and figurative, Winter also makes video and sculpture. His work interprets contemporary reality and reactions to modern life.

Life and education

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Winter was born in Kent, England. He studied at Hastings College of Arts, Camberwell College of Arts[1] and the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in Germany with Fritz Schwegler.[2][3]

In the early 1990s, he was a member of the London art collective, BANK.[4]

From October 1993 to June 1994, Winter was artist-in-residence for the city of Mannheim, Germany.[1] In 2010, the Reiss Engelhorn Museum in Mannheim, featured a solo exhibition of his work titled "Wild Life”. The museum invited artists to exhibit who had received the award from the city of Mannheim under the slogan "Welcome Back", acknowledging their artistic work and its progress since the scholarship.[5]

In 2015, Kerber Verlag published a large monograph of Winter's work to mark 20 years of painting in Germany titled "Dizzyland. 20 Years in Germany".[6]

Since 2006, Winter has been working with gallery curator Asher Edelman in New York City, New York.[7]

Winter lives and works in Berlin, Germany.[3][8]

Work

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Winter's painting is influenced by literature, film and politics,[6] and has been called "speculative realism".[9] His work includes fictitious characters as well as those inspired by his personal life.[8]

Winter creates series that deal with a specific issue. His series "Bavarian Postcards" shown in his solo exhibition “Bavarian Heaven” at the Wilhelm-Hack Museum (2002) are based on postcards from the Berchtesgaden area and its dark history. In particular motifs from Obersalzberg, Hitler's Berghof and the surrounding mountains are integrated into Winter's large-scale works on canvas.[10][11][12]

His series of paintings "Virgin Forest" (2005) exhibited in New York at Salander O’Reilly Gallery (and years later at Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College) is based on the comparison of English and German fairy tales set deep in the woods.[13][14]

In a review of his exhibition "Songs of Innocence" (2007), Jonathan Goodman said: "He catches his young characters at the moment when their curiosity loses its innocence and joins the experience of adults."[15]

The novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding influences the series of Winter's work called Primeval. As in the novel, the children and adolescents in the paintings have gone wild and society has broken down.[16] The Halloween theme alluded to in these paintings was developed further in Winter's "Spook-a-rama" series, an installation that opened on the night of Halloween at Edelman Arts in New York (2008). This event also featured a seance that attempted to summon the spirit of the medieval artist Hans Holbein the Younger."[17] A selection of these works was shown at Lehr Zeitgenössiche Kunst in Cologne, Germany under the title Tales of Trust.[18]

Space Time Reality painting by Christopher Winter

Winter's series "Weird Science" and "Unnatural History" deal with human longing to transcend the ordinary through magic.[19]

In his series "Speculative Realism", Winter extends space and reality, combining the installation with figurative and abstract painting.[9][20] The work is influenced by the novel 1Q84 by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and deals with a parallel world that is very close to ours. This series has been shown in Cologne and Berlin at Lehr Zeitgenössiche Kunst under the title "2Q13 Speculative Realism" and in New York at Garis & Hahn under the title "Virtual Being". In addition to his usual figurative approach to painting Winter includes in this series Abstraction and Cubism styles.[8]

Various projects

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In 2007, Winter was the first of five artists chosen to exhibit in the project "DRIVE THRU Gallery" in Aschersleben, Germany, initiated by the Bauhaus Museum, Dessau and Internationale Bauausstellung. The exhibition series raised awareness of the urban renewal taking place in East Germany. In vacant lots huge reproductions were placed of paintings by Christopher Winter, closing the gaps between buildings creating an oversized gallery exhibition in a public space.[21]

Pit Baumgartner, founder and producer of the music group De–Phazz, initiated a project setting Winter's paintings to music. Under the title "I'll show you something" ("Ich zeig dir was")it was accompanied by an audio book upon release in 2009.[22] This followed his first collaboration with Baumgartner in 2008. The cover of that solo album by Baumgartner, entitled Tales of Trust, shows the painting is the "Supernatural" (2005) painting from the "Virgin Forest" series.[23]

Winter was the founder and director of the exhibition series “KIK” (Peter Wilde co-directed KIK ONE and KIK TWO). This was a non-profit independent exhibition program launched in 2014 at Berlin's Kino International.[24][25] KIK ONE had about 1,400 visitors. Artists such as Julian Rosefeldt; Jonathan Meese; Elmgreen & Dragset; Andy Hope 1930; Gary Hill; Jonas Burgert; Martin Eder; Daniele Buetti; Julien Charrière and Assume Vivid Astro Focus were exhibited. Winter curated and also invited two guest curators a year to create an exhibition for the program,[26] which ended after KIK EIGHT in March 2016.[27]

In September 2016, Winter curated “"A New Language" for the Contemporary Arts Festival ROOT 1066 in celebration of 950 years since the Norman Conquest. He presented an international group of 23 Berlin-based artists who explore language and cultural changes instigated by the invasion of 1066.[3]

Winter has exhibited in international galleries, museums and institutions, including the Museum Ludwig, Cologne; Wilhelm-Hack Museum, Ludwigshafen; Victoria Miro Gallery, London; Galerie Gmurzynska, St. Moritz; Galerie Almine Rech, Paris; le Crédac, Centre d‘art d‘Ivry, Paris; Heidelberg Kunstverein, Heidelberg; Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York; Phillips de Pury, New York; Kunstverein Tiergarten, Berlin; Gasworks Gallery, London; Lothringer13, Munich; German Hygiene Museum, Dresden; Malkasten Künstlerverein, Düsseldorf; Frances Lehmen Loeb Art Center, New York; Bridport Art Centre, Bridport (UK); Städtisches Museum, Albstadt[28] and Reiss Engelhorn Museum, Mannheim.[1]

Various collections

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[28]

  • Berlinische Galerie Museum, Museum for Modern Art, Photography and Architecture, Berlin, Germany
  • Vassar College, The Frances Lehmen Loeb Art Center, New York
  • Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, Germany
  • Julio Serrano Segovia Collection, and Fundación Amparo y Manuel (AMMA), Mexico-City

Various literature

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Monographs

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  • Bavarian Heaven, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, 2002 ISBN 3-934713-04-1
  • Things to come, Basilika der Benediktinarbtei St, Bonifaz, München, 2004
  • Virgin Forest, Edelman Arts/Salander O'Reilly, New York, 2006 ISBN 1-58821-141-X
  • Songs of Innocence, Neuhoff Edelman Gallery, New York, 2007
  • Spook-a-rama, Edelman Arts, New York, 2008
  • Ich zeig dir was, Phazzadelic, Germany, ISBN 978-3-940978-01-1
  • Weird Science, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Köln, 2011
  • Unnatural History, Edelman Arts, New York, 2012
  • 2Q13 Speculative Realism, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Köln, 2013
  • Dizzyland. 20 Years in Germany, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, 2015 ISBN 978-3-7356-0085-1
  • Circadian Rhythm, Christopher Winter, Berlin, 2017
  • Archipelago of The Mind, Kerber Verlag, Bielefeld, 2021, ISBN 978-3-7356-0807-9
  • Supernatura, ArtEX,Todi (Italy), 2023
  • Super Nature, Karl Oskar Gallery, Berlin, 2024

Solo exhibitions

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2024 Super Nature Karl Oskar Gallery Berlin
2023 Archipelago of the Mind Museum Heylshof Worms
2023 Supernatura Torculareum Museum Todi (Italy)
2022 Travelling between then and now Dirk Lehr Collection Berlin
2021 Archipelago of the Mind ZAK/Zentrum für aktuelle Kunst Berlin
2020 Norwegian Wood Dirk Lehr Collection Berlin
2019 Libertine Island Karl Oskar Gallery Berlin
2017 Circadian Rhythm Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst Berlin
2015 Virtual Being Garis & Hahn New York
2015 In Search of Lost Time Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst Berlin
2015 Holy & Ghost Katholische Kirche St. Eduard Berlin
2014 Reflecting Realities Mindy Solomon Gallery Miami
2014 2Q14 Speculative Realism Lehr Zeitgnössische Kunst Berlin
2014 Telling Tales Bridport Art Centre Bridport
2013 2Q13 Speculative Realism Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst Cologne
2012 Unnatural History Edelman Arts New York
2011 Weird Science Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst Cologne
2011 Shooting Artists La Pagode Paris
2010 Wild Life Reiss Engelhorn Museum Mannheim
2010 Evolution Edelman Arts New York
2010 Black Ghosts Kunstverein Tiergarten Berlin
2010 Pablo Picasso-Zwischen Arena und Arkadien (Séance Performance from Christopher Winter) Städtisches Museum Albstadt
2009 Tales of Trust Lehr Zeitgnössische Kunst Cologne
2009 Postcards from The Edge Künstlerverein Malkasten Düsseldorf
2008 Spook-a-rama Edelman Arts New York
2008 Big Small Works Edelman Arts New York
2007 Hitzefrei Drive Thru Gallery (in association with the Bauhaus Museum, Dessau and the IBA Internationale Bauausstellung) Aschersleben
2007 Songs of Innocence Neuhoff Edelman Gallery New York
2006 Virgin Forest Salander O‘Reilly - Edelman Arts New York
2005 If things get real Galerie Jaspers Munich
2004 Passion Kunst-Station Sankt Peter Cologne
2004 Things to Come Basilika von St. Bonifaz Munich
2003 Innocent Spaces Artax Düsseldorf
2003 Heimat Forum in Dominikanerkloster Frankfurt
2002 Bavarian Heaven Wilhelm-Hack Museum Ludwigshafen
2002 Winterwonderland Oberwelt Stuttgart
2001 Amazing Stories Enders Projects Frankfurt
2000 Holiday Galerie Neue Kunst Mannheim
1999 Kindergarten Enders Projects Frankfurt
1999 Bavarian Bus Tour Massacre Onomato Video Archiv Düsseldorf
1999 Alien Sex Invaders Raum X Düsseldorf
1995 Witness Academia Mannheim
1994 Ice Houses Galerie Säule Mannheim
1993 Illuminations Reiss Engelhorn Museum Mannheim

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Christopher Winter". Edelman Arts. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Christopher Winter". Art Net. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "A New Language". 1066contemporary.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  4. ^ Jennings, Rosie (July 1991). "Bank". Time Out London.
  5. ^ Wind, Annika (3 September 2010). "Künstlerische Heimkehrer auf Zeit". Mannheimer Morgan. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Christopher Winter Dizzyland 20 Years in Germany". Kerberverlag. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. ^ Gross, Michael (21 November 2017). "Asher Edelman's Rose-Colored House-warming". Avenue Magazine. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  8. ^ a b c "Christopher Winter "Virtual Being" Garis & Hahn". NY Art Beat. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Christopher Winter: Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst". Koelner. December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  10. ^ Meyer, Eva (August 2002). "Christopher Winter Bavarian Heaven". Meier Magazine.
  11. ^ Foerster, Barbara (8 July 2002). "Den Bildern die Letzte Unschuld rauben". Mannheimer Newspaper.
  12. ^ Wappler, Dietrich (5 July 2002). "Wo Hitler's Haus Einst Stand". Rheinpflaz Newspaper.
  13. ^ Richter, Verena (July 2006). "Alle Regeln Der Kunst". GQ German.
  14. ^ Hodara, Susan (13 February 2015). "At Vassar College, Canvases So Big They Are Seldom Seen". New York Times. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  15. ^ Goodman, Jonathan (January 2008). "Christopher Winter". Art in America. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  16. ^ Pak, Eudie (22 October 2008). "Speaking of the Dead". Village Voice. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Christopher Winter Tales of Trust". Monopol Magazine. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  18. ^ Kushner, Daniel (6 December 2017). "Artist Christopher Winter Conjures an "Unnatural History"". Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Christopher Winter's In Search of Lost Time". Kunstleben Berlin. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  20. ^ Matsche, Thomas (21 November 2007). "Kunst trifft Baulücke". Stern Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  21. ^ "uc graphic freie grafik, visuelle kommunikation". ucgraphic.de. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Pit Baumgartner – Tales Of Trust". discogs.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  23. ^ "KIK ONE: Kunst Im Kino International". waitamo.de. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  24. ^ "KIK TWO Art & Party". Art Connect. April 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  25. ^ "Kino - International - Kunst" (PDF). poison-berlin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  26. ^ ""Kunst Im Kino – KIK EIGHT" – March 4th Berlin". Art Studio Reynolds. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Vita Christopher Winter". Lehr-Galerie.de. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
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