Norbert Bisky Explained

Norbert Bisky (born 1970) is a German artist based in Berlin. He is one of the most important representatives of a new figurative painting in the 21st century.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Life

Norbert Bisky was born in Leipzig and grew up in the former German Democratic Republic^[4] as "part of a very Communist family that really believed in all that stuff".^{[5] [6]}

From 1994 to 1999 Norbert Bisky studied painting at Hochschule der Künste in Berlin where he was a Master Student of Georg Baselitz and at the Salzburg Summer Academy in the class of Jim Dine.

In 1995, he spent a year as an exchange student in Madrid, where he discovered the works of Francisco de Goya, Francisco de Zubaráns and Jusepe de Ribera.

Bisky was a guest professor at the HEAD Academy of arts in Geneva from 2008 to 2010 and from 2016 to 2018 at HBK Braunschweig.^{[7] [8]} In 2015, he swapped studios with Tel Aviv based artist Erez Israeli for three months.^[9]

Work

Norbert Biskys early paintings are most commonly described as heavily influenced by socialist realism, the official art of the GDR. Comparing the belief in communism to a religion, he processed his childhood memories by painting "those images of paradise" and "false promises" into dazzling bright images of idealized bodies and untouched nature.^[10]

In later years, Bisky's large-size paintings, often depicting adolescents, increasingly shifted towards darker themes. Personal loss, the experience of terror, travels to Brazil and media reports inspired him to examine subjects such as violence, sexuality and destruction symbolized by figures, in many cases floating, falling or tumbling without any gravitational axis.^{[11] [12]} Firmly established in the public conscience through media images following the September 11 attacks, these falling figures explore the transience of youth, the loss of autonomy, isolation and the disintegration of modern civilization.

The aesthetic tumult surrounding the figures is punctuated by the cross pollination of cues from Christian ideology, art history, gay culture, pornography and apocalyptic visions.^{[13] [14]} Through this, Bisky transmits an impression of instability on the canvas that distinctly resonates with our contemporary state of affairs.^[15]

In May 2013, Norbert Bisky created his first stage set for the piece "Masse" by the Berlin State Ballet that premiered in the legendary Berlin Nightclub Berghain in May 2013 and was the subject of a TV documentary by German director Nicole Graf.^[16]

Since May 2017 Norbert Bisky's large-format painting "Vertigo" is prominently displayed in Berghain's entrance hall as part of the club's art concept, which also features works by Wolfgang Tillmans and Joseph Marr.^[17]

For World Press Freedom Day, Norbert Bisky created the painting "Rauschen" which was printed on the title page of numerous German daily newspapers, in collaboration with the Federal association of German newspaper publishers (BDZV: Bundesverband Deutscher Zeitungsverleger) on 3 May 2019.^{[18] [19]}

Bisky is being represented by Fabienne Levy Gallery in Lausanne, Switzerland.^[20] Until 2023, he was also represented by König Galerie in Berlin.^[21]

Exhibitions

2024

• "Ludology", Galerie Templon, New York^[22]

2023

• "Im Freien", Kunstverein Freunde Aktueller Kunst, Zwickau^[23]
• "Swing State", Navot Miller & Norbert Bisky, Weserhalle, Berlin^[24]

2022

• "UTOPIANISTAS", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France^[25]
• "Taumel", König Galerie, Berlin, Germany^[26]
• "Kurpark", Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands^[27]
• "Walküren-Basislager", Staatsoper Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany^[28]
• "Mirror Society", SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, USA^[29]

2021

• „DISINFOTAINMENT", G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany^[30]

2020

• "Unrest", Fabienne Levy Gallery, Lausanne, Switzerland^[31]
• "Metrocake", KONIG TOKIO, Tokio, Japan ^[32]
• "Berlin Sunday", Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers, France ^[33]
• "Desmadre Berlin", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France ^[34]

2019

• "RANT", Villa Schöningen, Potsdam, Germany^[35] / "POMPA", St. Matthäus-Kirche, Berlin, Germany^[36]
• "Tainted Love/Club Edit", Villa Arson, Nizza, France^[37]

2018

• "Fernwärme", Museum Langmatt, Baden, Switzerland^[38]
• "Hope and Hazard: A Comedy of Eros", curated by Eric Fischl, Hall Art Foundation, Reading, USA^[39]
• "Boezemvriend" (with Grit Hachmeister), Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands^[40]

2017

• "Trilemma", König Galerie, Berlin, Germany^[41]
• "Die Revolution ist tot. Lang lebe die Revolution!", Kunstmuseum Bern, Bern, Switzerland^[42]
• "MISSING: Der Turm der blauen Pferde by Franz Marc – Contemporary artists in search of a lost masterpiece", Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, Germany^[43]

2016

• "Dies Irae", Crone Wien, Vienna, Austria^[44]
• "A FUGA", Galeria Baró, São Paulo, Brazil^[45]
• "Elective Affinities – German Art Since The Late 1960s", Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia^[46]
• "Zeitgeist – Arte da Nova Berlim", Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil^[47]

2015

• "Hérésie", Galerie Daniel Templon, Brussels, Belgium^[48]
• "Levinsky Street", Givon Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel^[49]
• "Balagan", Bötzow Berlin, Berlin, Germany^[50]
• "Black Bandits", Haus am Lützowplatz, Berlin, Germany^[51]

2014

• "Zentrifuge", Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock, Germany
• "Works on Paper", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France^[52]
• "Riots", Galería Espacio Mínimo, Madrid, Spain^[53]
• "10", Berghain, Berlin, Germany
• "Utopie Picturale 2", Fonderie Kugler, Geneva, Switzerland^[54]

2013

• "Norbert Bisky: Special Report", MEWO Kunsthalle, Memmingen, Germany^[55]
• "Paraisópolis", Galerie Crone, Berlin, Germany^[56]

2012

• "Stampede", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA^[57]
• "I am a Berliner", Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel^[58]
• "Laboratories of the Senses", MARTa Herford, Herford, Germany^[59]

2011

• "A Retrospective. Ten Years Of Painting", Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp, Cully, Switzerland
• "Decompression", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France

2010

• "befall", Galerie Crone, Berlin, Germany^[60]
• "Maudit", Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva, Switzerland

2009

• "Mandelkern", Kunstverein Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany^[61]
• "crossing jordaan", Cokkie Snoei, Rotterdam und Amsterdam, Netherlands^[62]
• "Nefasto Máximo", Galería Espacio Mínimo, Madrid, Spain^[63]
• "Norbert Bisky: Paintings", Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa, Israel^[64]

2008

• "cloud cuckoo land", Gallery Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India
• "privat", Galerie Crone, Berlin, Germany^[65]
• "minimental", Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam^[66]

2007

• "Ich war's nicht", Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, Germany^[67]
• "What's wrong with me", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA^[68]
• "Behind Innocence", Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, South Korea^[69]

2006

• "Total Care", Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius, Lithuania
• "es tut mir so leid", Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin, Germany^[70]

2005

• "Norbert Bisky", Studio d'Arte Cannaviello, Milan, Italy^[71]
• "Déluge", Galerie Suzanne Tarasiève, Paris, France
• "Malerei", Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany

2004

• "The Proud, the Few", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA^[72]
• "Abgesagt", Mannheimer Kunstverein, Mannheim, Germany
• "Opkomst en Verval", Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands^[73]

2003

• "Schlachteplatte", Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin, Germany^[74]

2002

• "Norbert Bisky", Museum Junge Kunst, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany

2001

• "Wir werden siegen", Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin, Germany^[75]
• "Almauftrieb", Kulturbrauerei Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
• "Vorkämpfer", Chelsea Kunstraum, Cologne, Germany

Public collections

• Hall Art Foundation
• MoMA^[76]
• Palm Springs Art Museum
• National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, South Korea
• Israel Museum, Jerusalem^[77]
• Fonds National d'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
• Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany
• Deutsche Bank Collection, Frankfurt, Germany
• G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany
• Kunsthalle Rostock
• Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig, Germany
• Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany
• Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany
• Stiftung Kunstforum der Berliner Volksbank, Berlin, Germany
• Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
• Schlossmuseum Murnau, Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany
• Ellipse Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
• The MER Collection, Segovia, Spain

See also

• List of German painters

Sources

• Mullins, Charlotte (2006). Painting People: Figure Painting Today. New York: Distributed Art Publishers.

External links

• Official website
• Interview with Norbert Bisky in Exberliner Magazine
• Leo Koenig Inc.: Norbert Bisky
• Haifa Museum of Art
• Artnet.com profile

Notes and References

1. https://www.textezurkunst.de/artist-editions/0823-h-2010/ Texte zur Kunst art magazine, No. 78, 20th year, June 2010, p. 250
2. https://www.handelsblatt.com/arts_und_style/magazin/handelsblatt-magazin-kuenstler-norbert-bisky-noch-ist-der-kalte-krieg-nicht-zu-ende/24334210.html Article
3. https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/berlin-kultur/article136226903/Norbert-Bisky-und-der-Hoellensturz-in-Friedrichshain.html Article
4. https://www.zeit.de/2010/12/Rettung-Norbert-Bisky Interview
5. Norbert Bisky in an interview with Karen Wright, in: Modern Painters, March 2005, pp. 76-81.
6. Mullins, 2006, p. 142
7. https://www.hbk-bs.de/hochschule/personen/norbert-bisky/ Website of HBK Braunschweig; accessed 12 May 2019
8. https://www.norbertbisky.com/biography/ Official website of the artist; accessed 12 May 2019
9. https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/kultur/deutsch-israelischer-ateliertausch/; Article in Jüdische Allgemeine newspaper; published 27 March 2015; accessed 12 May 2019
10. Norbert Bisky in an interview with Karen Wright, in: Modern Painters, March 2005, pp. 76-81.
11. Web site: Interview with Norbert Bisky; accessed May 12, 2019 . 19 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191850/https://www.wallrichwolf.com//kunst/147-qdas-schlimmste-ist-gleichgueltigkeitq.html . 29 October 2018 . dead .
12. https://www.welt.de/kultur/kunst-und-architektur/plus164071680/Ein-grosser-Maler-auf-dem-Absturz-nach-oben.html Ein großer Maler auf dem Absturz nach oben, Article
13. https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/article211861633/Angriff-mit-Farbe.html Angriff mit Farbe, Article
14. Web site: Norbert Bisky — internationales literaturfestival berlin.
15. https://artmap.com/koenigandclinton/exhibition/norbert-bisky-2007 Exhibition text for "What's Wrong With Me?" at Leo Koenig Inc., New York, 2007
16. http://ballett-journal.de/staatsballett-berlin-3sat-masse-berghain/ Website of Ballet Journal
17. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/norbert-bisky-berghain-936980 Want to See Norbert Bisky's New Paintings? You'll Have to Get Into Berlin's Notorious Berghain Nightclub First, Article by Henri Neuendorf for Artnet.com; published 28 April 2017; accessed 12 May 2019
18. https://www.monopol-magazin.de/norbert-bisky-gestaltet-zeitungsseite-zur-pressefreiheit Website of Monopol magazine
19. https://programm.ard.de/TV/3sat/masse---techno-ballett-aus-berlin/eid_28007586039371 TV documentation
20. https://www.fabiennelevy.com/artist/norbert-bisky/ Artist website at Fabienne Levy
21. https://www.koeniggalerie.com/collections/norbert-bisky Artist website at König Galerie
22. https://www.templon.com/exhibitions/ludology/ Gallery website
23. https://www.freunde-aktueller-kunst.de/ausstellungen-2016---2025.html
24. https://weserhalle.com/exhibition/navot-miller-norbert-bisky-swing-state/
25. Web site: Norbert Bisky — Utopianistas . . 16 November 2022 .
26. Web site: Norbert Bisky Taumel .
27. Web site: Cokkie Snoei - Exhibitions - KURPARK .
28. Web site: Norbert Bisky: Walküren-Basislager | Staatsoper Stuttgart .
29. Web site: Mirror Society | SCAD Museum of Art .
30. http://g2-leipzig.de/ausstellungen/6489/ Website of G2 Kunsthalle
31. Web site: Website of Fabienne Levy . 17 October 2020 . 2 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202114933/https://www.fabiennelevy.com/exhibition/unrest/ . dead .
32. https://www.koeniggalerie.com/exhibitions/31261/metrocake/ Website of Konig Galerie
33. https://www.confort-moderne.fr/fr/archives/event/Berlin-Sunday-Norbert-Bisky/2489 Website of Le Confort Moderne
34. https://www.templon.com/new/exhibition.php?la=en&show_id=664 Website of Galerie Templon
35. https://www.villa-schoeningen.org/ Website of Villa Schöningen
36. https://www.stiftung-stmatthaeus.de/programm/veranstaltung/hora-zur-eroeffnung-der-ausstellung-pompa-von-norbert-bisky/ Website of St. Matthew's Church
37. Web site: Website of Villa Arson . 19 June 2019 . 19 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200919183932/https://www.villa-arson.org/2018/12/tainted-love-south-club-edit/ . dead .
38. http://www.langmatt.ch/archiv/norbert-bisky-fernwaerme/ Website of Museum Langmatt
39. http://www.hallartfoundation.org/exhibition/hope-and-hazard-a-comedy-of-eros/installation-views Website of Hall Art Foundation
40. Web site: Boezemvriend . Cookie Snoei . 15 November 2020 .
41. Web site: Website of König Galerie . 22 November 2018 . 22 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144100/https://www.koeniggalerie.com/exhibitions/9134/trilemma/ . dead .
42. https://www.kunstmuseumbern.ch/see/today/657-die-revolution-ist-tot--120.html Website of Kunstmuseum Bern
43. https://hausamwaldsee.de/en/missing-der-turm-der-blauen-pferde-by-franz-marc/ Website of Haus am Waldsee
44. Web site: Archived copy . 19 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144100/https://artmap.com/cronegalerie/exhibition/norbert-bisky-2016 . 22 June 2019 . dead .
45. Web site: Norbert Bisky | A Fuga | Artsy.
46. http://lnmm.lv/en/aeh/press/news/533-international-conference-elective-affinities-german-art-since-the-late-1960s Museum website
47. http://culturabancodobrasil.com.br/portal/zeitgeist-berlim-arte-da-nova-berlim/ Website of CCBB
48. https://www.templon.com/new/artist.php?la=en&artist_id=275&display_bio=1 Gallery website
49. http://www.givonartgallery.com/past-exhibitions/norbert-bisky-levinsky-street Gallery website
50. boetzowberlin.de/index.php?id=52
51. Web site:
    1. lützow #befreiungskriege #napoleon #waterloo : Haus am Lützowplatz
    .
52. https://www.templon.com/new/artist.php?la=en&artist_id=275&display_bio=1 Gallery website
53. http://www.espaciominimo.es/norbert-binsky/ Gallery website
54. https://usinekugler.ch/fonderie/fonderie-kugler/news-fonderie/280-utopie-picturale-2 Gallery website
55. Web site: Website of MEWO Kunsthalle . 17 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130620195833/http://www.mewo-kunsthalle.de/ausstellungen/bisky-specialreport.html . 20 June 2013 . dead .
56. Web site: Kunstwerke von Norbert Bisky bei Galerie Crone auf artnet.
57. http://koenigandclinton.com/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-stampede/ Gallery website
58. Web site: Museum website . 19 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144102/http://www.tamuseum.org.il/about-the-exhibition/i-am-a-berliner . 22 June 2019 . dead .
59. News: Marta Herford Atelier + Kitchen = Laboratories of the Senses. Marta Herford .
60. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/galerie-crone-norbert-bisky-weicher-tod/1843426.html Article
61. Web site: NORBERT BISKY - Mandelkern Kalender Monopol - Magazin für Kunst und Leben . archiv.monopol-magazin.de . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144101/http://archiv.monopol-magazin.de/kalender/termin/20102185/dortmunder-kunstverein-ev/NORBERT-BISKY-Mandelkern.html . 2019-06-22.
62. http://cokkiesnoei.com/exhibitions/67/crossing-jordaan Gallery website
63. http://www.espaciominimo.es/norbert-bisky-nefasto-maximo/ Gallery website
64. https://www.hma.org.il/eng/Exhibitions/1828/Norbert_Bisky:_Paintings Museum website
65. https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/norbert-bisky-zeigt-sein-intimleben-in-der-ausstellung-privat-in-der-galerie-crone Article
66. http://cokkiesnoei.com/exhibitions/29/minimental Gallery website
67. Web site: Norbert Bisky - Ich war's nicht · HAUS AM WALDSEE. 7 August 2018.
68. http://koenigandclinton.com/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-whats-wrong-with-me/ Gallery website
69. http://galleryhyundai.com/en/?c=exhibition&s=1&mode=past&op=&past=&year=2007&gbn=view&gp=1&ix=249 Gallery website
70. https://www.schultzberlin.com/en/exhibition/es-tut-mir-so-leid Gallery website
71. Web site: Norbert Bisky - Studio d'arte Cannaviello.
72. http://koenigandclinton.com/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-the-proud-the-few/ Gallery website
73. http://cokkiesnoei.com/artists/29/bisky-norbert/biography Gallery website
74. https://www.schultzberlin.com/de/publication/schlachteplatte Gallery website
75. https://www.schultzberlin.com/de/publication/wir-werden-siegen Gallery website
76. https://www.moma.org/artists/28565 MoMA Website
77. Web site: Bild von Norbert Bisky in Sammlung aufgenommen . 23 June 2021 .