Johannes Kahrs - Biography

JOHANNES KAHRS

° 1965, Bremen (Germany)
Lives and works in Berlin (Germany)

SOLO l GROUP l PUBLICATIONS l COLLECTIONS l PRINT

Kahrs takes a photo, a video projection or a film still as the starting point of his drawings and oil paintings. He catches fragments of images of politics, show biz, and advertising to reform, re-interpret, and further fictionalise the represented idea by shifting tones and gradations of grey and black pastel, leaving contours blurred. As he experiments with the original from of the image, he detaches the picture from its original meaning. Hence, he finishes with an almost unrecognisable representation and completely new recording of reality.
His work is suggestive and impressive, yet particularly ghostly and mysterious.

In 2001, Johannes Kahrs had solo-exhibitions at S.M.A.K. in Ghent (BE), repeated at FRAC des Pays de la Loire in Carquefou (FR), and at Kunstverein München (DE). In 2004, he participated in the group exhibition Contre-Image at Carré d'Art Nîmes (FR). In the same year, he was also invited for the Manifesta Biennale at San Sebastian (ES). In 2006, his work was included in group shows at Museu Serralves in Porto (PT) and the Phoenix Art Museum (US). A solo show opened in September 2006 at Parasol Unit foundation for contemporary art in London (UK). In 2007 a solo exhibition opened at GAMeC in Bergamo (IT).

SOLO EXHIBITIONS


2010	FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
2008	Luhring Augustine, New York, NY (US), (September - October)
2007	"Men with music", GAMeC, Bergamo (IT), (April 4 - July 29)
2006	"Lonely long meaningless way home", Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, London (UK), (November 18 - February 10, 2007)
	"Ein ganz fremder Nackter", Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp (BE) (January 26 - March 11)
2004	"Dunkles Zimmer", Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp (BE), (Sept. 9 - Oct. 16)
2003	"Down 'n Out", Zeno X Storage, Antwerp (BE), (May 3 - June 7)
2002	"Down 'n Out", Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (DE), (December 13 - December 29)
	"Questions", Studio Massimo de Carlo, Milan (IT)
	"The Drunken Boat", Galerie Almine Rech, Paris (FR), (September 14 - October 29)
2001	"A-h", S.M.A.K., Ghent (BE), (June 2 - August 12), (cat)
	"A-h", FRAC des Pays de la Loire, Carquefou (FR), (March 24 - May 20), (cat)
	"A-h", Kunstverein München, München (DE), (January 10 - March 2), (cat)
2000	"La révolution Permanente", Galerie Almine Rech, Paris (FR), (November 10 - December 23)
	"Night in Sexyland", Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp (BE), (September 14 - October 25)
	"Shot and Painted", Galerie Franck + Schulte, Berlin (DE)
	"Last virgin on the left", Galerie Signal, Malmö (Sweden), (February 4 - March 5)
1999	"Statement", Art 29 Basel, pres. by Galerie Almine Rech, Basel (CH)
1998	"Why don't you paint my portrait", Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst, Bremen (DE), (cat)
	Double Stage - 6 Seconds Popular Violence", Galerie Franck + Schulte, Berlin (DE)
	"A-h", Galerie Almine Reich, Paris (FR)
	"Schwarzes Loch/Weisse Wand", Galerie Franck + Schulte, Berlin (DE), (cat)
1997	"93´09´´- Vorzimmer / 4 Klacks", Vereniging Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst, Ghent (BE)
	"hole", Galerie Arndt & Partner, Berlin (DE)
	"Thomson Homestead, Slater, Misouri", Galerie Transit, Leuven (BE)
1995	"Bild und Malerei", Galerie Wohnmaschine, Berlin (DE), (cat)
1994	"Schlag doch", DAAD Galerie, Berlin (DE), (cat)
1993	"Keine Falsche Bewegung", Galerie Mutzek, Berlin (DE)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS


2008	'Re-Imagining Asia', House of World Cultures, Berlin (DE), (March 13 - May 18, 2008)
	'Colección de Arte Contemporáneo de la Fundación la Caixa', Caixaforum, Madrid (ES), (February 14 - April 6)
	'western moderne', FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand (FR), (February 8 - April 6)
	'The Painting of Modern Life', Castello di Rivoli, Turin (IT), (February 4 - May 4, 2008)
2007	"The Painting of Modern Life", Hayward Gallery, London (GB), (October 4 - December 30)
	"De Cirkel", Roger Raveelmuseum, Machelen-Zulte (BE), (March 25 - May 20)
	"Visit(e): Contemporary art in Germany", Bozar, Brussels (BE), (March 23 - July 1)
	"Works on paper", Zeno X Gallery & Zeno X Storage, Antwerp (BE), (January 17 - February 17)
2006	"Vous êtes ici", FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand (FR), (November 9 - January 17, 2007)
	"Parcours video-installatie", Beursschouwburg, Brussels (BE), (November 24 - December 23)
	"Constructing Reality: New Berlin", Bass Museum of Art, Miami (US), (November 3 - January 21, 2007)
	"25 years Zeno X Gallery", Zeno X Gallery & Zeno X Storage, Antwerp (BE), (October 17 - December 2)
	"Leeftijdgenoten", Roger Raveelmuseum, Machelen-aan-de-Leie (BE), (September 3 - November 19)
	"flutter", The approach, London (GB), (June 29 - August 6)
	"Constructing Reality: New Berlin", Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Arizona (US), (April 7- September 24)
	"Johannes Kahrs, Magnus von Plessen, Eberhard Havekost und Wilhelm Sasnal", Colecçao Fundaçao de Serralves - Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Porto (PT), (May 13 - July 2)
	"Le Mouvement des Images", Centre Pompidou, Paris (FR), (April 3, 2006 - 2007)
	"La mirade de l'artista: la proposta de Juan Uslé. Collectio d'Art Cotnemporani Fundacio 'La Caixa'", Fundacio 'La Caixa', Barcelona (ES), (January 27 - May 7)
2005	"Zur Vorstellung des Terrors: Die RAF - Ausstellung", Kunst-Werke, Berlin (DE), (Jan. 29 - May)
	"Young artists (selected by)", Witte Zaal, Ghent (BE), (June 7 - June 26)
2004	"Drafting Deceit", Apexart, New York (US), (Nov. 17 - Dec. 22)
	"45th October Salon: Continental Breakfast", Belgrado, Servia, (11 Sept - 31 Oct.)
	"Manifesta 5", European Biennale of Contemporary Art, San Sebastian (ES), (11 June - 30 Sept.)
	"Contre - Images", Carré d'Art, Nîmes (FR), (03 June - 26 Sept.)
	"Berlin-Moskau / Moskau-Berlin 1950-2000", Staatliche Tretjakov Galerie, Moscow, (RU), (March 15 - June 15)
	"Zie Tekening", Project Voorkamer, Stedelijk Museum Wuyts-Van Campen & Baron Caroly, Lier (BE), (February 20 - May 2)
	"Was Malerei heute ist", Stiftung Opelvillen, Rüsselheim (DE), (February 8 - April 25)
2003	"Fuori Uso 03", Pescara (IT), (November 29 - January 8 2004)
	"Plastik, Plüsh und Politik - Reflexe der 70er Jahre in der Gegenwartskunst", Städtische Galerie Nordhorn, Nordhorn (DE), (November 21 - January 25 2004)
	"Berlin-Moskau / Moskau-Berlin 1950-2000", Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin (DE), (September 28 - January 5 2004)
	"Kiss and Ride", Z33 / Begijnhof, Hasselt (BE), (July 10 - November 2)
	"Warum! Bilder diesseits und jenseits des Menschen", Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin (DE), (May 28 - August 3), (cat)
	"A Mains Nues", FRAC Haute-Normandie (FR)
	"Deutschemalereizweitausenddrei", Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt (DE), (January 15 - April 13), (cat)
2002	"Great Theater of the World", Taipei Biennal, Taipeh (TW)
	"Cardinales", MARCO - Museo de Arte Contemporànea de Vigo, Vigo (ES), (cat)
	"Questions", Studio Massimo de Carlo, Milan (IT)
	"Without Consent", CAN - Centre d'art de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel (CH), (June 6 - August 18)
2001	"In/Site/Out", Apex, New York (US)
	"Double - Trouble", Borusan Kültur ve Sanat, Instanbul (TR)
	"Moving Pictures.Photography and Film in Contemporary Art, Villa Merkel / Bahnwärterhaus, Esslingen (DE), (July 1 - September 23)
	"Screen", Psychiatrisch Centrum Sleidinge, Sleidinge (BE), (November 24 - December 20)
	"Squatters", Museo de Art Contemporain de Serralves, Porto (PT), (June 23 - September 16)
2000	"Indoor", S.M.A.K., Ghent (BE)
	"Children of Berlin", Museum Folkwang, Essen (DE)
	"Dorothea von Stetten Kunstprize", Kunstmuseum Bonn (DE), (cat)
	Kunstbank Berlin, Berlin (DE)
1999	"Face à l'Autre", FRAC Haute-Normandie (FR), (December 13 - January 30 2000)
	"The Children of Berlin", PS 1, New York (US), (November)
	"Ainsi de suite 3", Centre d'Art Contemporain, Sète (FR)
	"Rue Louise Weiss", Centre d'Art contemporain, Meymac (FR)
	"Indoor", Musée d'Art Contemporain, Lyon (FR)
	"Art Club Berlin", AU Base, New York (US)
	"Independance day", Kunst-Werke e.V. , Berlin (DE)
	"Drawings", Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp (BE)
	"EV+A", Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick (IR)
1998	Biennale de Berlin, Berlin (DE), (October - January 1999)
	"The Cinema Project", Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (DE)
	"Indoor", Centro civico per l'Arte Contemporanea, Serre di Rapolano (IT), (cat)
	"Le présent du Futur", FRAC Languedoc-Rousillon, Montpellier (FR)
	"Kamikaze", Marstall, Berlin (DE)
1997	"Heaven - Private View", P.S.1, New York (US)
	"Selection Fall 1997", Drawing Center, New York (US)
	"Korrespondenzen", Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh (UK), (cat)
	"Fenêtre sur cour", Galerie Almine Reich, Paris (FR), (cat.)
1996	"The Aggression of Beauty", Galerie Arndt & Partner, Berlin (DE)
	"Nach Weimar", Kunstsammlungen zu Weimar, Weimar (DE), (cat)
	"Laboratorium Berlin - Moscow", Contemporary Art Center, Moscow (RU)
1995	"Club Berlin", Biennale XLV, Venice (IT)
	"Close Up", Städtische Galerie, Bremen (DE), (cat)
	"Filmcuts", Galerie Neugerriemschneider, Berlin (DE)
	"Drawings", Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich (CH)
1994	"Postconceptual Painting", Kunstwerke, Berlin (DE)
	"A Personal Choice", Galerie Franck + Schulte, Berlin (DE)
1990	"Geist und Körper", Deutsches Museum für Geschichte, Berlin (DE), (cat)

PUBLICATIONS


2007	Collection Art Contemporain - Centre Pompidou Centre Pompidou - Musée national d'art moderne, Paris (FR)
	The Painting of Modern Life: 1960's to Now The Hayward, London (GB)
	Men with Music GAMeC, Bergamo (IT)
2006	Constructing Reality: New Berlin Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Arizona (US)
	Johannes Kahrs, Magnus von Plessen, Eberhard Havekost und Wilhelm Sasnal: Images in Painting Colecçao Fundaçao de Serralves - Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Porto (PT)
2005	2005 - "Open Days" Roma Publications 1998-2005 S.M.A.K., Ghent (BE)
	Drawing from the Modern: 1975 - 2005 The Museum of Modern Art MOMA, New York, NY (US)
	Contemporary Art in Belgium 2006 Edited by Best Of Publishing, Brussels (BE)
2004	Fehlfarben', Neue Malerei aus München, Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin Gerrit GOLHLKE, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden (DE)
	Some Reflections on the Painterly Practice of Johannes Kahrs European Biennal of Contemporary Art, San Sebastian (ES)
	Zie Tekening Stedelijk Museum Wuyts-Van Campen en Baron Caroly, Lier (BE)
2003	Comme des Garçons Edited by Comme des Garçons
	Berlin-Moscow/Moscow-Berlin’ - Kunst 1950-2000 Edited by Nicolai, Martin Gropius-Bau, Berlin (DE)
	Deutschemalereizweitausenddrei Nicolaus Schafhausen, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt (DE)
	Warum!’ Bilder diesseits und jenseits des Menschen Hatje Cantz, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin (DE)
	Down ‘n Out Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (DE)
2002	Vitamin P. New perspectives in painting Edited by PHAIDON
	Cardinales MARCO - Museo de arte Contemporanea de Vigo, Vigo (ES)
2001	Squatters Fundacao Serralves, Porto (PT)
	A-h Kunstverein München, München (G.), text by Harald Fricke
2000	Rencotres 3. Johannes Kahrs / Dr. Eric Caillon Edited by Images Modernes
1999	Johannes Kahrs. Why Don't You Paint my Portrait Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst, Bremen (DE.)
1994	Johannes Kahrs. Schlag Doch Berlin (G.), (Internationaler Schlumberger Kunstpreis)

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS


	Centre Pompidou, Paris (FR)
	Contemporary Art Fundacio 'la Caixa', Barcelona (ES)
	Colecçao Fundaçao de Serralves - Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Porto (PT)
	FRAC des Pays de la Loire, Carquefou (FR)
	FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
	Galerie Neue Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden (DE)
	Hamburger Bahnhoff, Berlin (DE)
	Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY (US)
	Museum of Contemporary Art MoCA, Los Angeles, LA (US)
	Museum of Modern Art MOMA, New York, NY (US)
	S.M.AK., Ghent (BE)
	UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA (US)