Christine Kunkler
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Christine Kunkler (b. 18 March 1970 in Bruchsal, Germany) is a fine artist. She lives in Forchheim, Germany.
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[edit] Work
Kunkler studied fine art in England after her "Abitur." In her paintings she focuses on town- and cityscapes as well as on current issues. Her medium of choice is oils, but she occasionally also uses acrylics, mixed media, charcoal and pencils.
Her style consciously follows the Cubist tradition as far as geometric lines are concerned. For her, the lines are an instrument to lead viewers to the core of the painting. Especially her more recent paintings, with their critical view of society, are designed in such a way that without the clear structure, their intention could hardly be understood at first glance. The clear structure, though, enables viewers to concentrate on the essential parts and encourages them to reflect on the contents. Thus the outward form interacts with the content, producing an effect that exceeds the mere visual enjoyment of the work.
Kunkler's body of work is categorized into a "three room" concept. The three rooms build upon each other to create a climax. In the first room, the viewer encounters pictures of an idealized world. In the second room, the concept of the first room is brought into question by portraying the hectic qualities of our modern world. The third room opposes the concept of the first, idealized world in a critical way. In this last room, the artist takes up issues of contemporary life that question the ideal world and that show the problems and conflicts of society.
Kunkler uses both paintings and large-format installations, which she calls "action installations," where people directly concerned with the topic are also involved. For instance, when demonstrations against the social reforms in Germany in 2004 were at their peak, Kunkler was preoccupied with the worries and needs of the people concerned. She contacted the organizers of the demonstration in Leipzig, was invited to participate, and asked the demonstrators to write and paint their ideas, feelings and statements on two large-format canvases (2x4m each). From this, Kunkler developed her action installation "Protest II". The installation contains two large paintings and is designed in such a way that the viewers may also participate--if they choose--by writing their own opinions on papers which will be attached to fences as part of the installation. Thus the installation will be continuously enlarged, offering the opportunity to observe the attitudes of the public toward top current issues over a long period of time. Art and its relevance in society are emphasized, as art here becomes an essential factor to encourage discussion.
[edit] Latest exhibitions
[edit] 2006
- Kang Gallery, San Francisco
- Gallery Ho, Seoul
- Gallery Jung, Seoul
- Galerie Artodrome, Forchheim
[edit] 2005
- Art International, Zürich
- Galerie Artodrome, Forchheim
- Gallery Jung, Seoul
[edit] 2004
- City Hall, Forchheim
- City Hall, Nürnberg
- Tagungszentrum Südwest, Nürnberg
