BIRTHE BLAUTH
December 9 – January 21, 2012
532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel is pleased to present four new works by Birthe Blauth, in her first solo show in the US.
Plato likens the restricted nature of human perception and recognition to being in a cave. Humans are trapped, chained down, and see nothing but the shadows of the outside world projected onto the walls of rock by the fire behind them. We are prisoners of our own neurological and biological structures, but also of our cultural and biographic backgrounds. We are unable to perceive the “real” world. We have no way of doing so. But still we strive to see beyond the limits of our own mental caves.
Birthe Blauth’s conceptual video works and installations explore the conflict between the individual stands and his limitations. Her interest is divided equally between two areas. On the one hand, she focuses on subjective perception. On the other, she explores the subjective thinking and effort individuals undertake to relate themselves to their surroundings. Her precise, pared-down works appear simple at first. But as soon as the observer takes the time to open up to them, their complexity and effectiveness unfold. Her works are meditative and “unhurried”. Her approach to time is more at home in the cultures of the Far East. Often, the boundaries between fiction and reality, between art and the observer, between art and non-art become dissolved.
M.A. and doctorate in Chinese Studies, Ethnology and European Art History at Ludwig-
Maximilians-University, Munich. Specialist area: iconology, mythology, religious anthropology
Lives and works in Munich.
WORKS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS AND BUILDINGS
2011 Kunstmuseum Bonn/Germany
2011 Johanneshouse Saarbrücken/Germany, acquisition of the archbishopric Trier
PRIZES AND AWARDS
2011 City of Munich, studio sponsorship
2011 Winner of the competition of the archbishopric Trier about the best art concept for the lobby Johanneshouse in Saarbrücken.
2011 Bavarian Studio Sponsorship
2010 BundesGEDOK Kunstpreis, Dr. Theobald Simon Preis
2010 International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York
2010 City of Munich, extra studio sponsorship
2010 Galerie Bezirk Oberbayern, catalogue sponsorship
2009 Prinzregent-Luitpold-Foundation, Munich, project sponsorship
2005 Rotbuchen Award, second prize
2005 Andreas Art Award
2004 HausderKunstAward, Munich