Georg Baselitz on Sculpture, Fascism, and Folk Art in 2011 Interview
In May 2011, Erik Verhagen interviewed Georg Baselitz for art press, where they explored his sculptural work, his controversial initial showing at the 1980 Venice Biennale, and his aversion to artistic conventions. This conversation coincided with a retrospective at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris running from 30 September 2011 to 29 January 2012, curated by Dominique Gagneux. Baselitz, who resides near Munich, primarily utilizes wood, employing an axe or chainsaw, and regards his sculptures as 'folk art.' He reflects on his childhood in East Germany and his subsequent relocation to West Berlin, where he distanced himself from abstraction. His debut sculpture, 'Model for a Sculpture' (1980), faced backlash for seemingly resembling a Hitler salute, influenced by artists like Edward Kienholz and Jonathan Meese.
Key facts
- Retrospective of Georg Baselitz sculptures at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 30 Sep 2011 – 29 Jan 2012, curated by Dominique Gagneux.
- Baselitz lives near Munich on property designed by Herzog & de Meuron.
- He works primarily in wood, using an axe or chainsaw.
- His first sculpture, 'Model for a Sculpture' (1980), was shown at the German Pavilion of the Venice Biennale alongside Anselm Kiefer.
- The sculpture was criticized for an alleged Hitler salute; Baselitz says it referenced African Lobi sculpture.
- Baselitz describes his sculpture as 'folk art' rooted in popular traditions.
- He compares his sculptural practice to archaeology.
- Baselitz's sculptural oeuvre comprises about sixty works over thirty years.
- Influences mentioned: Edward Kienholz, Eugène Dodeigne, Thomas Houseago, Matthew Monahan, Alessandro Pessoli, Jonathan Meese.
- Interview conducted by Erik Verhagen in May 2011.
Entities
Artists
- Georg Baselitz
- Anselm Kiefer
- Edward Kienholz
- Eugène Dodeigne
- Thomas Houseago
- Matthew Monahan
- Alessandro Pessoli
- Jonathan Meese
- Hans Hartung
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Kasimir Malevich
- Paul Klee
- Pablo Picasso
- Henri Matisse
- Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
- Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
- Willem de Kooning
- Alberto Giacometti
- André Malraux
- Joseph Beuys
- Gerhard Merz
- Peter-Klaus Schuster
- Erik Verhagen
- Dominique Gagneux
Institutions
- Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Herzog & de Meuron
- Venice Biennale
- German Pavilion
- Altes Museum
- Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden
- Museum Frieder Burda
- Helsinki Art Museum
- Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac
- Forum Würth
- Pinacoteca de São Paulo
- Michael Werner Gallery
- White Cube
- Musée Cantini
- University of Valenciennes
- art press
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Munich
- Germany
- Venice
- Italy
- Berlin
- East Berlin
- West Berlin
- Deutschbaselitz
- Saxony
- Baden-Baden
- Arlesheim
- Switzerland
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Salzburg
- Austria
- Marseille
- Valenciennes
- Burkina Faso
Sources
- artpress —