Thomas Hirschhorn

Thomas Hirschhorn (1957, Bern, Switzerland) studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich, Zurich, Swizerland, between 1978 and 1983, and in that year, he moved to Paris, France, where he presently lives. Hirschhorn received various important prizes, among which, Prix Meret Oppenheim (2018), Kurt Schwitters-Preis, Sprengel Museum (2011), Dutch Aica Prize (2006), Joseph Beuys-Preis (2004), Rolandpreis für Kunst im öffentlichem Raum (2003), Prix Marcel Duchamp (2000), Pole-Self 2001, Centre Georges Pompidou (2000) and Preis für Junge Schweizer Kunst (1999).

Using a multiplicity of materials as diverse as photographs, aluminium sheet, mannequins or monitors, the artist explores recurring present day themes connected to culture, economy, politics or religion. The decision to use day-to-day materials is justified by the political intention adjacent to those materials, because they are universal, economic, inclusive and have no aggregated value. In the approximately 70 works he created for the public space, he questions the autonomy, authorship and the resistance of a work of art, stating that art is a tool that has the power to touch and transform people.

Hirschhorn wites essays and texts,  like Critical Laboratory: The Writings of Thomas Hirschhorn, MIT Press (October Books, 2013, Une volonté de faire, Thomas Hirschhorn, Macula, collection Les in-discipliné-e-s (2015) and Gramsci Monument, Dia and Koenig Books (2015).

He participated in important solo and group exhibitions, including the Morit Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan (2018); MING Museum, Shanghai, Popular Republic of China (2018); Museum Villa Stuck, Munich, Germany (2018); Kunsthalle Bremen, Germany (2015); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2014); MAZ, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico (2014); Musée Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland (2013; DIA Art Foundation, Bronx, New York (2013); Institute of Modern Art Brisbane, Australia (2013); Mudam, Luxembourg (2012); Dia: Chelsea, New York (2012); Venice Biennale, Italy (2015, 2011, 1999); The Bijlmer Spinoza-Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2009); El Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico (2008); Musée d’Art Contemporain, Quebec, Canada (2007); Serralves Museum, Oporto, Portugal (2006), Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris (2004); Documenta, Kassel, Germany (2002), Centre Pompidou, Paris (Prix Marcel Duchamp) (2001); Skulptur Projekte in Münster, Germany (1997). His work is also present in various public and private collections.

 

PS, October 2020