Biography

Christian Lemmerz’ oeuvre’s span is extensive and pluralistic. Regardless of the material, the form or the medium employed, Lemmerz’ work can generally be characterized by aesthetics of effect. The artworks grasp out and clutch into the surrounding environment and call for more than merely contemplation.

There are only a few themes and taboos that are not turned upside down in the Lemmerzian universe, which has been stretched between, on the one side, Kant, Heidegger and other philosophers and authors, and on the other, a mass-media dominated world where suffering and death are central themes in an examination that circles around identity, existence and being.

Lemmerz has pointed out that art has to take effect in the manner of a provocative confrontation. However, as he maintains, art also has to do with experience. And as a matter of fact, sculpture is particularly suitable for establishing a confrontational and experience-exchanging situation, especially when it is perceived from a phenomenological point of view. In such a situation, the sculpture is connected with the (human) body. Just as does the human body in phenomenology, the sculpture enters into relations where the senses interact in such a way that the work can be experienced as a visual and tactile challenge, in the cognitive sense. Instead of being a more or less distanced onlooker, the viewer becomes an active participant, who becomes entangled in new relations and gets moved in some direction or other.

CV

Born 1959 in Karlsruhe, Germany

Education
1978-1982
The Academy of Fine Arts Carrara, Italy
1982-1986
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Denmark
1982-84
Værkstedet Værst, Denmark
from 1985
Performancegruppen Værst, Denmark

Solo exhibitions

2019
"EYESCAPE" with Lars Top- Galia, Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Uriel", Hans Alf Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2018
"Not I", Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
"Reality Virtual Reality", Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig, Germany

2017
"The Night is Large", Hans Alf Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Virtual Reality Art", Faurschou Beijing, China
"Lust", Randers Art Museum, Denmark

2015
"Limbo", Hans Alf Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2014
"Andante", Cisternerne, Copenhagen, Denmark

2013
"Eine Gruppenausstellung", Horsens Art Museum, Denmark
"Pseudosakral", Galleri Franz Pedersen, Denmark
"Angst", Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo

2012
"Resurrection", Space of Drawings, Copenhagen

2011
"Inferno", Stavanger Art Museum, Norway

2010
"Genfærd/Ghost", Aros, Aarhus Art Museum, Denmark
"Hypnosis", Faurschou Beijing, China
"Inferno", Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo

2009
"Largo" Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark

2007
"City of God", Horsens Art Museum, Denmark
"The Omen", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA

2006
“God”, Galleri Faurschou, København, Denmark

2005
“A.l.l.t.a.g.”, Ålborg Kunstforening, Denmark

2004
"Dopo La Storia“, Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark

2003
“Dopo La Storia” DCA Gallery, New York, USA
“Rio”, Galleri Faurschou, Denmark

2002
“The Wake”, DCA Gallery, New York, USA

2001
”The White of The Eye”, Kunstforeningen Gammel Strand, Denmark

2000
”Cogito (auch)”, Galleri Franz Pedersen, Horsens, Denmark
”Copycat”, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark

1999
”GODDOG”, DCA Gallery, New York, USA

1998
“Palimpsest” DCA Gallery, New York, USA

1997
"Dopo La Storia II“, MUHKA, Antwerp Belgium
“Dopo La Storia”, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Dialouge”, The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada

1996
“Holy Spirit”, The 23rd international Biennal of Sao Paulo, Brazil

1995
”Dio Cane”, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark

1994
”Scene”, Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark
”Red Room”, Franz Pedersen Kunsthandel, Horsens, Denmark
”Anatomi”, Den Kongelige danske Kobberstiksamling på Statens Museum for Kunst,
Copenhagen, Denmark
“White Shadow”, DCA Gallery, New York, USA

1993
"Abfall“, Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum, Sorø, Denmark
"Geschlecht“, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Lichtfall“, Espace Enface, Bruxelles, Belgium
"Lebernebel“, Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany

1992
"New Works“, Franz Pedersen Kunsthandel, Horsens, Denmark
1991
"Limbo“, Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark
”Der Zwilling”, Kunstforeningen af 1990, Copenhagen, Denmark

1989
”Melancholia”, Galleri Prag, Copenhagen, Denmark

1988
”Wiederaufbereitung”, London Bar, Barcelona, Spain
”Kathasis”, Galleri Prag, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Psyke”, Galleri Specta, Aarhus, Denmark
”Skrevet i Vand” (Written in Water), Aarhus Kunstmuseum Århus, Denmark
London Bar, (w. Erik A. Frandsen), Barcelona, Spain

1987
”Afasi”, Galleri Prag, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Das Schweigen”, Køge Skitsesamling, Køge, Denmark
"Requiem”, Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark

1986
”La scultura moderna é sempre bella“, Galleri Specta, Århus, Denmark

1985
"Tegneserie“ (w. Michael Kvium), Galleri Basilisk, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Værst" (w. Michael Kvium), HVOR, Copenhagen, Denmark

1984
"Scenes principales” (w. Kirsten Langkilde), Galleri Sub-Set, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Codelia” (w. Erik A. Frandsen), Tranegården, Gentofte, Denmark

Group exhibitions

2019
"Family", Nordic Contemporary, Paris, France
"The Red Bean Grows in the South", Faurschou Foundation, New York, USA

2018
"Darkest Before Dawn", Nordic Contemporary, Paris, France
"Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie Carl Nielsens legat", Den Frie, Copenhagen

2017
"CC:LAB Virtual Reality". Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen
"TESER. Danske samtidskunstnere i dialog med reformationen"Rundetaarn, Ribe Art Museum, Fuglsang Art Museum, The Museum of Religious Art, Lemvig and Stiftung Christliche Kunst in Wittenberg, Germany.

"New Media Art (Virtual Reality): Paul McCarthy & Christian Lemmerz". Faurschou Foundation, Venice, Italy.

2016

"Célébration", Ringsted Galleriet, Ringsted, Denmark
"The Continual Condition", Hans Alf Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark

2014
"Fluid Flesh", Nordic Contemporary, Paris, France
"Masterpieces", Gallerie Wolfsen, Denmark
"Et Brask Spark", Munkeruphus, Denmark
"Nocturne", Sydhavn Station, Denmark
"Drømmeland", KUNSTEN, Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark
"Portraits of God", Hans Alf Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
"OMHANDLING!", Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark

2013
"What am I Doing Here?", Esbjerg Art Museum, Denmark
"Director´s Choice 7-9-13", ARoS, Denmark
"Every Day Matters", Faurschou Foundation, Denmark
"Den hvide udstilling", Horsens kunstmuseum, Denmark

2012
"Rock – Paper – Scissors", LARM Galleri, Copenhagen
"Alpha-Beta-Gamma", BKS Garage, Copenhagen
"Lys over Lolland", Lolland, Denmark
"Dengang i 80'erne". Horsens Art Museum, Denmark.
"Wonders- Masterpieces from Private Collections in Denmark". KUNSTEN, Aalborg, Denmark.

2011
"Sjælens Spejl". Naturfølelsen i Dansk kunst. Holstebro Art Museum, Denmark
"Zartbitter", E105, Berlin, Germany

2010
"Det' vores kunst", KØS, museum of art in public spaces, Denmark
"Connexions", Esbjerg Art Museum, Denmark
Skulpturparken Veksølund, Denmark
"Tilløb til rum", Clausens Kunsthandel, Demmark

2009
"Kontrapunkt", Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Denmark

2008
"Jesus Crisis" with Michael Kvium, Galleri Brandstrup, Norway
"Ruin-Vision", Vejle kunstmuseum, Denmark
"Kunsten bag Tremmer", Kunstmuseet Køge Skitsesamling, Denmark

2007
"POPcentric", Gering & Lopez Gallery, New York, USA
"Trace", Esbjerg Art Museum, Esbjerg, Denmark
"Sculpture: from Thorvaldsen to Lemmerz", Vestsjællands Art Museum, Sorø, Denmark

2006
“Ridykeulous”, Participant, New York, USA

2005
“Self Preservation Society”, Leo Koenig Gallery, New York, USA
”Fairy Tales Forever – a contribution to H.C. Andersen”, ARoS, Denmark
“Lemmerz, Kvium, Frandsen”, Galleri Brandstrup, Oslo, Norge
”Sculptures”, Veksølund, Denmark

2004
”KLF”, DCA Gallery, New York, USA
“Hvid Marmor”, Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Clinch”, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark

2003
“Decembristerne”, Den Frie udstillingsbygning, Copenhagen

2002
”Den Haag Sculptuur 2002 / The Hague Sculpture 2002: Europe's Image, Myth &
Religion”, Den Haag, The Netherlands
”Socle du Monde”, Herning Kunstmuseum, Herning, Denmark

2001
Christian Lemmerz, Ingvar Cronhammer og Peter Laugesen, Nordjyllands
Kunstmuseum, Denmark

2000
”Mennesket”, Arken Museum for Moderne Kunst, Ishøj, Denmark
”Solutus”, Per Kirkeby, Christian Lemmerz, Bruce Nauman, Carl Pope, Marc
Quinn, Jenny Saville, Mark Tansey, HVOR, BY, LAND
”Eyegoblack”, Pinacoteca do Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil; Den 7. Internationale Biennale, Havanna, Cuba; Museo National de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires; Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Chile; Trapholt Museum of Modern Art, Denmark

1999
”Inderlighedens Spill”, Christian Lemmerz, Marina Abramovic, Iver Joks, Erik Pisani, Christian
Partus, Andreas Serrano, Line Vagaard, Shirin Neshat og Anders Serrano, Lillehammer Art Museum, Lillehammer, Norway

1998
Janine Antoni, Wim Delvoye, Christian Lemmerz, Zbigniew Libera, Marc Quinn, Galleri
Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark

1997
”The Louisiana exhibition 1997”, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark
“Kropsnær”, Heine Onstad Kunstcenter, Oslo, Norway; Alvar Aalto Museo, Jyväskylä, Finland; Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum, Sorø, Denmark; Kyarvalsstadir, Reykjavik, Iceland

1996
”Kropsnær”, Norrköping Kunstmuseum, Norrköping, Sweden
”Statens Museum for Kunst besøger Charlottenborg”, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Skønheden og dyret”, Brandts Klædefabrik; Fyns Kunstmuseum, Odense, Denmark
”Den surréelle skulptur fra 1930'erne til i dag”, Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum, Ålborg, Denmark
”Metamorfosen” (w. Ingvar Cronhammar & Niels Hansen Jacobsen), Herning Kunstmuseum, Herning, Denmark
”Krop - det nøgne menneske”, Århus Kunstmuseum, Århus, Denmark
”Ska' det være skulptur”, Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark
”KLF” (w. Michael Kvium & Erik A. Frandsen), Arken Museum of Modern Art, Denmark

1995
“Welfare”, Galerie du Temple, Paris, France; Stockholm Art Fair, Stockholm, Sweden

1994
“Works on paper”, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
Art Copenhagen, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
FIAC, Galleri Faurschou, Paris, France
Art Cologne, Galleri Faurschou, Cologne, Germany

1993
„Inferno“, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark
FIAC, Galleri Faurschou, Paris, France

1992
”Kronen på Værket”, Art in Town, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Spejlbilleder”, Det Nationalhistoriske museum på Frederiksborg, Denmark

1988
”Ateliers en liberte: 17 artistes danois”, Foundation Cartier, Paris, France
Galleri F15 (w. Erik A. Frandsen, Peter Bonde and Claus Carstensen), Moss, Norway
Galleri Specta, Århus, Denmark

1987
”De danske Vilde” (The Wild Danish), Nordens Hus, Reykjavik, Island; Nordens Hus, Færørerne
”Skulpturens tid”, Sophienholm, Denmark

1986
”William H. Michaelsen's Tegnelegat”, Den Kongelige Danske Kobberstiksamling på Statens
Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Limelight”, Charlottenborg, Denmark
”Vild med kunst”, Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Århus, Denmark

1985
”Ung dansk kunst”, Unge kunstneres samfund, Oslo, Norway
”Ler-etuder I”, Eks-Skolens Forlag, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Ler-etuder II”, Horsens Kunstmuseum, Denmark
”Ler-etuder III”, Galleri Specta, Århus, Denmark
”Man skal ikke altid give folk en hjælpende hånd”, Vesterbrogade, Copenhagen, Denmark

1984
”Xeroxgrafi”, Kastrupgaardsamlingen, Kastrup, Denmark
”Gud og Gramatik”, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
”De danske”, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
”Skulptur Nu”, Århus Kunstbygning, Århus, Denmark

1983
”Grevinde Danner billeder/billeder fra det tabte paradis”, Værkstedet Værst, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Græsset malker koens ben”, Værkstedet Værst, Copenhagen, Denmark
”Furious”, Skaanska Konstmuseum, Lund, Sweden
”Fantasiens Tømmermænd”, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark

1982
”Der Ring des Niebelungen”, Værkstedet Værst, Copenhagen, Denmark

Commissions

2019
Ghost Ship, Copenhagen Light Festival

2018
SOS, Danish Ministry of Culture, Copenhagen Light Festival

2017
Lazarus, Bronze. Commission for Ny Carlsbergfondet at Bispebjerg Hospital

Silence. Memorial for policemen killed on duty. Carrara marble, Danish Police headquater.

Dark Rain. Commission of 280 square meter ceiling painting at Bestseller Store Romerhus in Aarhus, Denmark.

2013
Todesfigur.Marble, donated by Architect Henning Larsen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Denmark

2012-13
Altar, crucifix and window. Marble, bronze and gold leaf, Lyngby Church, Denmark

2010-13
Paradiso Private commission. Marble and bronze, Vejle, Denmark

2008
Madonna (Darfur). Bronze, Søndergade in Horsens, Denmark

2006
Jailbird. Bronze, State Prison Østjylland, Denmark

2000
Adam-Kadmon. Bronze, Pustervig Torv, Aarhus, Denmark

1999
Platons Hule. Carrara Marble, Kolding Gymnasium, Denmark

1997
UR UR. Neon, steel and glass, Cinemateket, Denmark


Performance

1997
”Medea”, Merete Nørgaard, Odense Performance Festival, Denmark

1996
"Failagain Wake", w. Michael Kvium, Arken Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Denmark

1989
"Luxus/Fluxus", Performancegruppen Værst, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Musikerne maler-Malerne laver Musik og Forfatterne holder kæft", Kulturministeriets Hus
Overgaden, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Body", Performancegruppen Værst, Århus Festuge, Århus, Denmark; Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, Denmark

1988
"Work in Progress", Performancegruppen Værst, Festivalen Permutant Wurst, Copenhagen, Denmark

1987
"Afasi I", Performancegruppen Værst, Café Kellerdirk, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Afasi II", Performancegruppen Værst, Sveaborg, Finland
"Afasi III", Performancegruppen Værst, Roskilde Festival, Roskilde, Denmark

1986
"Afasi", Performancegruppen Værst, Sole, Stavanger, Norway
"Tod", w. Sonny Tronborg, Sveaborg, Finland

1985
"Vi har ingenting at sige, men vi gør det så koncentreret som muligt", Performance gruppen Værst, Galleri Kongo, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Bjergbestigeren" og "I Dalen" Performance gruppen Værst, Efterårsudstillingen, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Hans", Performance gruppen Værst, Holbæk Kunsthøjskole, Denmark; Krasnapolsky, Copenhagen, Denmark

1984
"Cordelia I", Performancegruppen T'um, Tranegården, Denmark
"Cordelia II", Performancegruppen T'um, Denmark
"Gud og Grammatik", Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark
"De Danske", w. Michael Kvium, Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
"Nihil", w. Michael Kvium, Galleri Sub-Set, Copenhagen, Denmark

Film
2008
The Wake, 11th Cairo International Bienniale, Cairo, Egypt

2001
The Wake, film by Christian Lemmerz and Michael Kvium
The Wake on Tour:
13/11-00 - 30/1-2001 Pinacoteca, Sao Paulo, Brazil
16/11-00 - 30/1-01 Bienal de Arte de la Habana, Cuba
6/12-00 – 31/1-01 Bienal Arte de Buenos Aires, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Argentina
16/1 – 10/2-01 The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburg, England
9/2-4/3-91 Horsens Museum of Art, Horsens, Denmark
30-31/3-01 Centro de Arte Moderna, Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian, Lissabon

1999
”The Wake”, film by Christian Lemmerz and Michael Kvium
The Wake on tour:
13/9, Royal Museum of Art, Art Biennal 2000
16/12 – 15/10, Amsterdam, World Wide Video Festival
4/11 - Kampnagel, Hamburg, Germany

1994
"Voodoo-Europa" w. Michael Kvium, 35 mm, 70 minutes

1991
“Albert at Andy's,” Portrait of (the danish artist) Albert Mertz

1986
"Grød", w. Performancegruppen Værst, 16 mm, 20 minutes

Set Design

2016
La Somnabula. Directed by Runar Hodne, Opera Hedeland

2010
Dancer in the Dark. Directed by Kasper Bech Holten, The Royal Opera House

2006
Genevieve. Directed by Kasper Bech Holten, Bard College, USA
Omstigning til Paradis. Directed by Emil Hansen, Turbinehallerne, Royal Danish Theatre

2001
Jeff Koons. Directed Peter Langdal, Betty Nansen Teatret

1997
Alptraum. Direction and set design, Edison

1996
Hair. Directed Peter Langdal, Betty Nansen Teatret
Petra von Kants bitre tårer. Directed by Vibeke Bjelke, Kaleidoskop

1994
Brok. Directed by Emil Hansen, Edison

Public Collections
Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg, Denmark

Horsens Kunstmuseum, Horsens, Denmark

Department of Prints and Drawings, National Gallery of Art, Copenhagen, Denmark

Køge Skitsesamling, Køge, Denmark

Det Nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg, Hillerød, Denmark

The Saatchi Collection, London, Great Britain

Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark

Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum, Sorø, Denmark

ARoS, Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Århus, Denmark

Randers Kunstmuseum, Randers, Denmark

Herning Kunstmuseum, Herning, Denmark

Saxo Collection, Denmark

Stavanger Art Museum, Norway

Grants
2019
Ole Haslunds Kunstfond

2018
Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie Carl- Nielsens Legat

2010
Livsvarig ydelse, Statens Kunstfond

2009
Thorvaldsen Medallion

1998
Eckersberg Medaillen

1987
Arthur Købke legatet
Hafnia rejselegat
Irgens Berghs kunstlegat

1986
Michaelsens tegnerlegat

Litterature

"ABFALL", ed.: Christian Gether, Vestsjællands Kunstmuseum, 1993
"AFASI", Galleri Prag, 1986
"BABYLEIB", Galleri Prag, 1989
"Das Zeug", Galleri Specta, 1986
Finberg, Bonny, "Christian Lemmerz", Cover Magazine, March issue, 1995
“Hvid marmor”, ed.: Miss, Stig. Thorvaldsens Museum, 2004
Hübl, Michael, "Lemmerz", Galleri Faurschou, 1994
Hübl, Michael, "Ni spørgsmål og ni svar", L.U.K.A.S, 1994
"KATHARSIS", Galleri Prag, 1988
Knudsen, Vibeke, "ANATOMI", Den Kongelige Kobberstiksamling, Statens Museum for Kunst, 1993
"LEMMERZ", ed.: Marianne Krogh Jensen, The 23rd International Biennial of Sao Paulo,
Brasil 1996
"LIMBO“, ed.: Claus Hagedorn-Olsen, Horsens Kunstmuseum, 1991
Lumbye Sørensen, Ann,"The Artist as Director and Scenographer", Siksi, nr. 4/95, 1993
Lumbye Sørensen, Ann, "Dødsfikseret kunst lever længst", Øjeblikket nr. 20, 1994
Lumbye Sørensen, Ann, "Christian Lemmerz", Dansk nutidskunst 28, 1995
Lumbye Sørensen, Ann: ”Doppo la Storia”, Horsens Kunstmuseum & Galleri Faurschou, 2004
Meyer, Peter S., "SKITSER", Kunstmuseet Køge Skitsesamling and Horsens Kunstmuseum1987
"REQUIEM", ed.:Ellen Tange Mortensen and Claus Hagedorn-Olsen, Kunstmuseet Køge Skitsesamling and Horsens Kunstmuseum, 1987
"PSYKE", Galleri Specta, 1988
Seward, Keith, "Christian Lemmerz", Artforum, February issue, 1995
"SKREVET I VAND", ed.: Lennart Gottlieb, Aarhus Kunstmuseums Forlag, 1988
"WIEDERAUFBEREITUNG", London Bar, 1988