Kris Martin
°1972, Kortrijk, Belgium
Lives and works in Ghent, Belgium
Kris Martin occupies a singular and important position in contemporary art.
Kris Martin’s artistic work is characterized by an investigation into existential questions. His re ections on being materialize in works that convey intense experiences with the passage of time, with life and death, spirituality and religion. His installations, sculptures, photographs, videos, and drawings combine conceptual elements with a sensuous quality. The artist frequently employs found objects that hold a particular fascination for him; to his mind, these objets trouvés are carriers of a number of different ideas as well as of their own history. Using minimal interventions and reduced means, Martin alters these objects, creating gaps that provide room for interpretation which
the viewer can then ll with his or her own personal associations. Despite their melancholic and symbolic aspects, Kris Martin’s works never come across as pathos-ridden; instead, they touch the viewer with an existential urgency punctuated by a mischievous humor.
exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 S.M.A.K., Gent: For Whom II
2017 Hof van Cleve, Kruishoutem
VNH Gallery, Paris: PROMETHEUS
2016 Santa Sabina, Roma: AUGURI
MOSTYN, Llandudno (Wales): T.Y.F.F.S.H. König Galerie, Berlin
VNH Gallery, Paris: MOVEABLE
2015 Fürstenberg Zeitgenössisch, Donaueschingen: FLOREAT KRIS MARTIN
2014 Kunstraum Innsbruck, Schloss Ambras, Innsbruck: INDEX Philara, Düsseldorf: NOUMENON (with Alicja Kwade)
2013 Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf: SOMEBODY White Cube, London
K21 Kunstsammlung NRW, Künstlerraum, Düsseldorf
2012 Kunst-Station Sankt Peter, Köln: DO NOT CROSS THE RED LINE Theseustempel, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Wien: FESTUM II Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg: MANDI
Kestnergesellschaft, Hannover: EVERY DAY OF THE WEAK Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau: EVERY DAY OF THE WEAK Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn: EVERY DAY OF THE WEAK
2011 Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf Marc Foxx, Los Angeles
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco: The Magni cent Seven: HAMMARBY!
2010 White Cube, London: FESTUM
K20 Kunstsammlung NRW, Düsseldorf: T.Y.F.F.S.H. Almine Rech Gallery, Brussel
2009 Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf
Johann König, Berlin
2008 CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco
Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle
Galleria d`Arte Moderna e Contemporanea GAMeC, Bergamo: INTER PARES Marc Foxx, Los Angeles
White Cube, London
2007 MoMA PS1, New York Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf
Piazza San Marco, Venice: MY PRIVATE #5 Marc Foxx, Los Angeles
2006 Johann König, Berlin: DEUS EX MACHINA
2005 Neuer Aachener Kunstverein, Aachen Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf
2004 Hoet Bekaert Gallery, Wortegem-Petegem
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 Kunsthaus Graz, Graz: GLAUBE LIEBE HOFFNUNG. 800 JAHRE DIÖZESE GRAZ-SECKAU Aspen Art Museum, Aspen: RITUAL
Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen: GEGEN DIE STRÖMUNG. REISE INS UNGEWISSE
2017 Kunstraum Dreieich, Dreieich: PEACE LOVE AND LIGHT
Geukens & De Vil, Antwerp: ECCE HOMO
The Henry, Seattle: THE TIME. THE PLACE. CONTEMPORARY ART FROM THE COLLECTION Johannes Vogt Gallery, New York: THE MIDDLE
The Warehouse, Dallas: DOUBLES, DOBROS, PLIEGUES, PARES, TWINS, MITADES
Kasteel van Gaasbeek, Lennik: THE ARTIST/KNIGHT
S.M.A.K., Gent: HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS AND HOW EASILY IT CAN BE BROKEN
Schloss Tüßling Projects, Tüssling: MEET ME IN HEAVEN
Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg: DYING WELL – FALSE DEATH2016
My Phantasies, K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
This Is Your Replacement, Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf
2015
Bare Wunder: Sigmar Polke - 100 Years of Mediumistic and Phantasmagorical Photography, Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf
2013
Goldrausch - Gegenwartskunst aus, mit oder über Gold, Villa Merkel, Galerien der Stadt Esslingen, Esslingen
When Attitudes Became Form Become Attitudes, Museum of Contemporay Art Detroit, Detroit
A House of Leaves. Third Movement, The David Roberts Art Foundation, London
Pataphysics, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York
What Matters – Waar het op aan komt, Psychiatrisch Ziekenhuis Duffel, Duffel
Young Collectors, Maison Particulière, Brussels
GLASSTRESS: White Light / White Heat , Collateral Event of the 55th Venice Biennale, Venice
FOR MY EYES ONLY. VJP Collection of Contemporary Art and Design, Maribor Art Gallery, Maribor
Back to Earth. Die Wiederentdeckung der Keramik in der Kunst, Herbert Gehrisch Stiftung, Neumünster
Defining Space, Bastei, Cologne
Inner Journeys, Maison Particulière, Brussels
Dinard, Atomic Love, Palais des Arts et du Festival, Dinard
2012
WONDERFUL – Humboldt, Crocodile & Polke, The Olbricht Collection, me collectors room Stiftung Olbricht, Berlin
Private Kunstsammlung Münster – Director's Choice, Kunsthalle Münster, Münster
A House of Leaves – First Movement, David Roberts Art Foundation, London
Goldrausch: Gold in der Gegenwartskunst, Kunsthalle Nürnberg, Nuremberg
en désordre. Neuaquisitionen der Sammlung Philara, Sammlung Philara, Düsseldorf
Sint-Jan, St.-Bavo-Kathedrale, Ghent
PUNKT-SYSTEME. Vom Pointillismus zum Pixel, Wilhelm-Hack Museum, Ludwigshafen
Im Schein des Unendlichen. Romantik und Gegenwart, Altana Kulturstiftung im Sinclairhaus, Bad Homburg
Cartographies, Fundación la Caixa, Barceolona, Madrid
An Incomplete History of Incomplete Works of Art, Galleria Francesca Minini, Milano, curated by Adam Carr
Particles, Messen De Clercq, Brussels
Tomorrow, Bastei, Cologne
THE END, Hoet Bekaert Gallery, Ghent
When Attitudes Became Form Become Attitudes, San Francisco
2011
Mémoires du Futur, la collection Olbricht, La Maison Rouge, Paris
The Silver Show – 25 Years of NAK, Neuer Aachener Kunstverein, Aachen
Die Kunst der Entschleunigung, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg
Wunder, Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Hamburg
29th Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana
Untitled, 12th Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul
arkhaiologia. Archäologie in der zeitgenössischen Kunst, Kunsthaus CentrePasquArt, Biel
Life A User`s Manual, Meessen De Clercq, Brussels
Sleeping Beauties, Castle of Gaasbeek, Gaasbeek
Über die Dinge, Kunsthaus Mürz, Mürzzuschlag
Nod Nod Wink Wink: Conceptual Art in New Mexico and Its Influence, The Harwood Museum of Art, Taos
Commercial Break, 54th Venice Biennale, Venice
The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture Part I, Saatchi Gallery, London
La Part Manquante, Galerie Michel Journiac, Paris
The Flemish Masters: That’s life, Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York, curated by Filiep Libeert
Under Destruction III SI Swiss Institute, New York City
2010
The Power of Drawing , Geukens & De Vil, Knokke-Heist
When will they finally see the power of drawing, Geukens & De Vil, Antwerp
Let's dance, Musée D`Art Contemporain du Val-de-Marne, Vitry-sur-Seine
Exhibition, Exhibition, Castello di Rivoli, Museum of Contemporary Art, Rivoli, Turin
Before and after, Balice Hertling, Paris
Touched, 6th Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool
You can't get there from here but you can get here from there, Apexart, New York
Lebenslust und Totentanz – Lust for Life and Dance of Death. Olbricht Collection, Kunsthalle Krems, Krems
Unsichtbare Schatten - Bilder der Verunsicherung, MARTa Herford
Under Destruction, Museum Tinguely, Basel
Yesterday will be better, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aargau
Intensif-Station, Künstlerräume, K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
*Kupferstichkabinett, White Cube, London
Signs of Life, Richard Telles Fine Art, Los Angeles
Christmas in July, Yvonne Lambert, New York
Human Condition, Kunsthaus Graz, Graz
20th Century Fox, Vanmoerkerke Collection, Ostend
Contemplating the Void, Guggenheim Museum, New York
Triennale Fellbach
Silent Revolution, K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
Berlin – Paris, Johann König, Berlin; Galerie Philippe Jousse, Paris
Neugierig? Kunst des 21. Jahrhunderts aus privaten Sammlungen, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn
2009
Beg Borrow and Steal, Rubell Family Collection, Miami
A L'épreuve, Institute D'Art Contemporain, Villeurbanne
Earth: Art of a changing world, GSK Contemporary, Royal Academy of Arts, London
Silent, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima
Ename Actueel, Hoofdstuk IV, Proviniciaal Archeologisch Museum, Ename
Morality, Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam
Das Gespinst. Die Sammlung Schürmann zu Gast im Museum Abteiberg, Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach
The Importance of the Zebra Fish, Pilar Parra & Romero, Madrid
Moby Dick, Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco, curated by Jens Hoffmann
cargo manifest, Bayrische Staatsoper, Munich
The Site of Silence – Der Ort der Stille, Ausstellungshalle zeitgenössische Kunst Münster, Münster
Heaven, 2nd Athens Biennale, Athens
Beginnings, Middles, And Ends, Galerie Georg Kargl, Vienna
Magritte et la Lumière, Almine Rech Galerie, Brussels
The Quick and the Dead, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
On second readings, Galeria Estrany-de la Mota, Barcelona
Born in the morning, dead by night, Leo König, New York
2008
Heavy Metal, Kunsthalle zu Kiel, Kiel
Political / Minimal, Kunstwerke – Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin
Almine Rech Gallery, Brussels
Ars in Cathedrali, Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule, Brussels
Library, UOVO Open Office, Berlin, curated by Adam Carr
The Krautcho Club / In and Out of Place, Forgotten Bar Project, Berlin; Project Space 176, London
This is not a void, Galerie Luisa Strina, São Paulo, curated by Jens Hoffmann
When a clock is seen from the side it no longer tells the time, Johann König, Berlin
FADE IN / FADE OUT, Bloomberg Space, London
L’Argent, Frac Ile-de-France, Paris
Speicher fast voll – Sammeln und Ordnen in der Gegenwartskunst, Kunstmuseum Solothurn
The Eternal Flame, Kunsthaus Baselland, Basel
Boros Collection, Berlin
Past – Forward, Zabludowicz Collection 176, London, curated by Vincent Honoré
Traces du sacré, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
You Dig the Tunnel – I`ll Hide the Soil, White Cube, London
God is design..., Galerie Fortes Vilça, São Paulo, curated by Neville Wakefield
Section des Miroirs, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Der eigene Weg/Perspektiven belgischer Kunst , Museum Küppersmühle für Moderne Kunst, Duisburg
Countdown, Center For Curatorial Studies, New York, curated by Vincenzo de Bellis
All-Inclusive. Die Welt des Tourismus, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt a.M.
2007
Gehen Bleiben, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn, curated by Volker Adolphs
Passengers, Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco
The Office, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York
The Long Goodbye, Vanmoerkerke collection, Oostende, curated by Patrick De Brock
The skeleton in art, Cheim & Read, New York
For Sale, Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art, Lisbon, curated by Jens Hoffmann
Learn to Read, Tate Modern, London, curated by Vincent Honoré
Invisible, Max Wigram Gallery, London
Absent Without Leave, Victoria Miro Gallery, London
Some Time Waiting, Kadist Art Foundation, Paris, curated by Adam Carr
Ci vediamo a casa, Perarolo di Cadore, Belluno
Trobleyn/Laboratorium, Jan Fabre, Antwerp
2006
My private escaped from Italy, Centre international d’art et du paysage de l’île de Vassivière
Protections. Das ist keine Ausstellung, Kunsthaus Graz, Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz, curated by Adam Budak, Christine Peters
Faster! Bigger! Better! Signetwerke der Sammlungen, ZKM, Museum für neue Kunst, Karlsruhe
Nichts weiter als ein Rendezvous, Künstlerhaus Bremen, Bremen
Designing Truth, Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg
Of Mice and Men, 4th Berlin Biennial for Contemporary Art, curated by Ali Subotnick, Massimiliano Gioni and Maurizio Cattelan, Berlin
Message personnel, Yvon Lambert, Paris
2005
SEE history 2005 - Der private Blick, Kunsthalle zu Kiel, Kiel
Post Notes, Midway Contemporary Art, Minnesota
2003
Gelijk het leven is, SMAK Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Ghent
The distance between Me and You, Lisson Gallery, London
2001
Verklärte Nacht, Sonsbeek 9, Arnhem
2000
Wahnsinn, Garden of Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle