| Christian Jankowski |
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| Christian Jankowski's conceptually based
work is derived from performative intersections of
seemingly disparate worlds. Using cultural and social
idiosyncrasies, Jankowski explores the contingent nature
of meaning and interpretation through a constant play of
fictionalized reality. Documented through video,
photographs, and installation, the work instigates a
larger dialogue on the nature of art and the role of the
artist. Christian Jankowski was selected for his ArtPace residency by Lisa Corrin, Chief Curator at the Serpentine Gallery, London, England. She has organized a number of significant shows for the Serpentine including solo exhibitions by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Jane and Louise Wilson, Chris Ofili, Shirin Neshat, and an upcoming show of Rachael Whiteread. Corrin was recently appointed Deputy Director for Art/Jon and Mary Shirley Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Seattle Art Museum, WA. Christian Jankowski is interested in dialogue and communication. But what happens when art intersects with magic, fortune-telling, psychology, and religion? Orchestrating improbable encounters between individuals in seemingly unrelated fields, Jankowski allows the unpredictable nature of human interaction to shape his work. The performative structure of Jankowski's projects—resulting primarily in video, photographs, and installation—blurs the distinctions between the staged and the real. Whether by having a magician turn him into a dove for the duration of an exhibition (My Life As a Dove, 1996), or asking a television psychic if his work will be successful (Telemistica, 1999), or going to a therapist to analyze his inability to make new work (Desperately Seeking Artwork, 1997), Jankowski transforms existing cultural structures into environments that clearly exhibit artifice yet occur in reality. The resulting artwork materializes from the process itself. For his residency at ArtPace, Jankowski continues his personal inquiry into the potential of exchange. Like his previous projects, the artist draws from surrounding social and cultural conditions to construct a framework of discussion. Approaching a religious leader in the San Antonio area, Jankowski poses the ultimate question: what makes a work of art holy? The piece is formed by the ensuing dialogue between artist and minister, each bringing their expertise and experience to the conversation. Leaving room for poetics, humor, irony, and sincerity, the work addresses questions of spirituality and the divine. What may seem an unlikely topic for contemporary art in the 21st century, in fact, generates a larger narrative about artistic inspiration and transformation. Videotaped in the format of an evangelical television program, The Holy Artwork evokes the legacy of religious art while presenting a contemporary take on the religiosity of art (or perhaps the art of religiosity) in today’s society. |
Berlin based
artist, Christian Jankowski was born in 1968 in
Gottingen, Germany. Schooled at the Academy of Fine Arts,
Hamburg, Jankowski gained international recognition in
the 48th Venice Biennale curated by Harald Szeemann in
1999. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions
throughout Europe including De Appel, Amsterdam,
Netherlands (2000); Kolnishcher Kunstverein, Cologne,
Germany (1999); Goethe Institute, Paris, France (1999);
H. M. Klosterfelde, Hamburg, Germany (1998); Portikus,
Frankfurt, Germany (1998); and Art Node, Stockholm,
Sweden (1997). Group exhibitions include the 2nd Berlin
Biennale, Germany (2001); The National Gallery Prize,
Hamburger Bahnhof--Museum der Gegenwart, Berlin, Germany
(2000); Crash, ICA, London, England (1999); German Open
1999, Gegenwartskunst in Deutschland, Kunstmuseum,
Wolfsburg, Germany (1999); l'autre, Biennale de Lyon,
France; among many others. He made his U.S. debut in 2000
at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT as part of their
MATRIX exhibition program for contemporary art. His work
can be seen in upcoming shows at Mass MoCA, North Adams,
MA; Michelle Maccarone Gallery, New York, NY; and the
Swiss Institute, New York, NY. Christian Jankowski "Rosa", 2001 German artist Christian Jankowski came to public attention with "Telemistica" (1999), a video that introduced in the utmost official and aristocratic art structure - the Venice Biennale - the popular world of small local TV channels, that, on request, broadcast live horoscopes to their public. In "Rosa", the interweaving of art and show business produces further cross-references. A filmmaker asked Jankowski to use some of his ideas and works in a film on the art world; the main character, Rosa, would have been a female alter ego of Jankowski. The artist accepted, provided that he too would be accorded the right to use this curious exchange between art and cinema for yet another work. The result is this 35 minute film, where the actors working on the set suddenly stop in the middle of a scene and turn towards the camera, to answer questions or express perplexities regarding the contemporary art system. Elena Volpato in "media connection" 2001 |
