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Christian Jankowski

By utilising the medium of human relationships, the comedic slapstick humour of Formulae, or indeed any of the other innumerable tools of modern communication available, Christian Jankowski trades blows with history, politics and the language of art. His works are almost always 'performances' – both literally and figuratively – in so far as his carefully calibrated set-ups and interactive scenarios engage occasionally unsuspecting collaborators: televangelists, fortune-tellers, border guards and professional magicians have all innocently colluded with him to become 'co-authors' of his wide-ranging work. The collaborative nature of Jankowski's practice is paramount, as each participant often unwittingly contributes his or her own texture to the story. There is as much emphasis on the journey as the destination, and the risks and chances inherent in Jankowski's collaborations ultimately give surprising shape to the final works, whether these are photographs, paintings, sculptures or video installations. By foraging for food in a supermarket with a bow and arrow (The Hunt, 1992), renovating an exhibition space under the auspices of a reality TV show format (The Perfect Gallery, 2010) or selling a souped-up speedboat as a work of art at an art fair (The Finest Art on Water, 2011), Jankowski proves that he is not frightened to turn the camera, canvas or microphone back on himself. His playful and far-reaching projects tug at the very fabric of society itself, querying many notions of authorship, ownership, originality, propriety and authenticity that might otherwise be taken for granted. 

 

Christian Jankowski lives and works in Berlin. He was born in 1968 in Göttingen, Germany and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Hamburg, Germany. Recent solo exhibitions include Galeria Hit, Bratislava, Slovakia (2017); Haus am Lütowplatz, Berlin, Germany (2016), Kunsthaus Hamburg, Germany (2015), Center for Contemporary Art, Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland (2013); Sala de Arte Publico Siqueiros, Mexico City, Mexico (2012); MACRO, Rome, Italy (2012); Nassauischer Kunstverein Wiesbaden, Germany (2009); Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany (2008); Miami Art Museum, FL, USA (2007); MIT List Visual Art Center, Cambridge, MA, USA (2005); Swiss Institute, New York, NY, USA (2001) and the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT, USA (2000). He has participated in numerous group exhibitions Including 'Autogestion', Joan Miró Foundation, Barcelona, Spain (2016); ‘When I Give, I Give Myself’, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2015); Project Los Altos (off-site show in Silicon Valley, staged by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, CA, USA, 2013); Taipei Biennial, Taiwan (2010); Sydney Biennial, Australia (2010); the Whitney Biennial, New York, NY, USA (2002) and the Venice Biennale (2013 and 1999). In 2016, Jankowski curated the 11th edition of Manifesta, becoming the first artist to assume the role.

 

 

 

 

I love the art! from the series „Visitors”

Christian Jankowski
I love the art! from the series „Visitors”

2014
Neon sculpture 200 x 120 cm 78.7 x 47.2 in.

Wow! from the series „Visitors”

Christian Jankowski
Wow! from the series „Visitors”

2013
Neon sculpture 230 x 212 cm 90.6 x 83.5 in.

Heavy Weight History (Willy Brandt)

Christian Jankowski
Heavy Weight History (Willy Brandt)

2013
Black & white photograph on baryt paper 140 x 186.8 cm 55 x 73 1/2 in.

Heavy Weight History (Ronald Reagan)

Christian Jankowski
Heavy Weight History (Ronald Reagan)

2013
Black & white photograph on baryt paper 140 x 186.8 cm 187. 55 x 73 1/2 in.

Casting Jesus (”Take it easy, it’s the first round”) #1

Christian Jankowski
Casting Jesus (”Take it easy, it’s the first round”) #1

2011
Two C-prints mounted on cardboard, titled and signed, recto Framed: 39.5 x 27 cm Framed: 15.5 x 10.5 in.

Crying for the March of Humanity

Christian Jankowski
Crying for the March of Humanity

2012
Video (1x HD Cam, 1x Blu-ray) 26 min., NTSC, 16:9, colour, sound Dimensions variable

Casting Jesus

Christian Jankowski
Casting Jesus

2011
Dual channel video projection 60 minutes

Casting Jesus (”He is wrong because he is not suffering”) #18

Christian Jankowski
Casting Jesus (”He is wrong because he is not suffering”) #18

2011
Two C-prints mounted on cardboard, titled and signed, recto Framed: 39.5 x 27 cm Framed: 15.5 x 10.5 in.

Rooftop Routine

Christian Jankowski
Rooftop Routine

2008
DVD Duration: 4 minutes 30 seconds

Casting Jesus (”For me it’s him...and five and seven”) #4

Christian Jankowski
Casting Jesus (”For me it’s him...and five and seven”) #4

2011
Two C-prints mounted on cardboard, titled and signed, recto Framed: 39.5 x 27 cm Framed: 15.5 x 10.5 in.

Dali Woman

Christian Jankowski
Dali Woman

2007
Bronze 220 x 90 x 80 cm 87 x 35 1/2 x 31 1/2 in.

Strip the Auctioneer

Christian Jankowski
Strip the Auctioneer

2009
Single channel video

Caeser

Christian Jankowski
Caeser

2007
Bronze 215 x 90 x 90 cm 85 x 35 1/2 x 35 1/2 in.

El Che

Christian Jankowski
El Che

2007
Bronze 225 x 85 x 80 cm 88 1/2 x 33 1/2 x 31 1/2 in.

Lycan Theorized

Christian Jankowski
Lycan Theorized

2006
Film and mixed media Dimensions variable

Angels of Revenge (Butcher)

Christian Jankowski
Angels of Revenge (Butcher)

2006
Diptych: photograph 100 x 75 cm each 39 x 29 1/2 in. each

Angels of Revenge (Butcher)

Christian Jankowski
Angels of Revenge (Butcher)

2006
Diptych: photograph 100 x 75 cm each 39 x 29 1/2 in. each

A Life That Changes Your Week

Christian Jankowski
A Life That Changes Your Week

2005
Framed photographs and texts 31 x 47 cm / 12 x 18.5 in. (12 works approx.) 21.5 x 31.5 cm / 8.5 x 12.5 in. (28 works approx.)

16mm Mystery

Christian Jankowski
16mm Mystery

2004
Single screen DVD projection / 35mm film projection Dimensions variable

Hollywoodschnee

Christian Jankowski
Hollywoodschnee

2004
Film and single screen DVD projection 16mm colour film Duration: 12 minutes

Talk Athens

Christian Jankowski
Talk Athens

2003
DVD projection DVD player, plasma screen (4:3 ratio) Duration: 23 minutes 54 seconds

Bravo Jankowski!

Christian Jankowski
Bravo Jankowski!

2003
DVD, plasma screen (4:3 ratio), record player, headphones, amplifier, ‘Bravo Jankowski’ album by Horst Jankowski Dimensions variable

The Holy Artwork

Christian Jankowski
The Holy Artwork

2001
Television broadcast, performance and colour DVD Duration: 15 minutes 52 seconds

Flock

Christian Jankowski
Flock

2002
DVD and five silkscreen posters Framed dimensions: 91 x 72 x 3cm / 36 x 28 x 1 in. Duration: 12 minutes 15 seconds

Telemistica

Christian Jankowski
Telemistica

1999
Single channel DVD projection Duration: 22 minutes Dimensions variable

The Hunt

Christian Jankowski
The Hunt

1992/1997
Single channel video Duration: 1 minute 11 seconds Dimensions variable

Exhibitions

  1. Patternmaker's Maze - current exhibition

    Patternmaker's Maze

    20 July – 12 October 2024

  2. Patternmaker's Maze - past exhibition

    Patternmaker's Maze

    20 July – 12 October 2024

  3. Selected works in London - past exhibition

    Selected works in London

    8 December 2020 – 12 January 2021

  4. Christian Jankowski: Heavy Weight History - past exhibition

    Christian Jankowski: Heavy Weight History

    31 January – 8 March 2014

  5. Christian Jankowski: Casting Jesus - past exhibition

    Christian Jankowski: Casting Jesus

    7 September – 1 October 2011

  6. Christian Jankowski: The Frankenstein Set - past exhibition

    Christian Jankowski: The Frankenstein Set

    8 September – 30 September 2006

  7. Christian Jankowski: Bravo Jankowski! - past exhibition

    Christian Jankowski: Bravo Jankowski!

    17 September – 1 November 2003

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