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Archiquant

Ausstellung 02. November 2023 - 05. January 2024


A kaleidoscopic synthesis of architecture, art and language. Heidulf Gerngross - a retrospective.

In the fascinating world of art and architecture, the exhibition ARCHIQUANT with works by Heidulf Gerngross is a special highlight. Together with Heidulf Gerngross and Michelle Schreiner, curator and BURN-IN founder Sonja Dolzer has put together an impressive show that pays tribute to Gerngross' extensive oeuvre spanning six decades.

The focus of the show is a chapel, which functions not only as a sacred space but also as a symbol of the profound and spiritual dimension of Gerngross' work. It houses important works from Gerngross' time in Tokyo and Vienna in 1962, including The Twelve Apostles and Every Man is Holy. These works reflect the artist's intense engagement with Japanese and Austrian culture and his search for spiritual meaning and expression. Gerngross succeeds in building a bridge between East and West through his art and finding a universal language that is deeply rooted in the human soul.

Another highlight of the exhibition is the monumental painting "House 1", painted by Herbert Brandl in 2014. The work in the impressive format of 2.80 x 4.08 m was designed by Gerngross and executed by Brandl.

The exhibition also offers a deep insight into Gerngross' work as a designer and language artist. The exhibited design prototypes in reference to the geometric form Archiquant are testimony to his innovative strength and his tireless pursuit of new forms of expression. The Vorraumen and Raumen images, a selection of his post-suprematist data sheets and architectural photographs provide a comprehensive insight into the diverse and complex world of Heidulf Gerngross.

The Archiquant jewellery pieces, Archiquant sculptures and the Archiquant world construction kit Vinzenz also deserve special attention, underlining Gerngross' ability to express his artistic visions in a wide variety of materials and forms.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a presentation of the 20th anniversary edition of ST/A/R - Zeitung für Städteplanung, Architektur, Religion, another milestone in Gerngross' impressive career. Since 2003, over 4,000 newspaper pages of ST/A/R have been created, serving as critical and inspiring reflections on architecture, art and society.

ARCHIQUANT with Heidulf Gerngross is a tribute to an artist who has succeeded in merging architecture, painting, design and language into a unique, universal work of art. The exhibition is a must-see for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the world of a true master of art.

 

Register for the vernissage

Vernissage

BURN-IN invites you to the exhibition opening on 10. November 2023 6 pm.

Location

BURN-IN Galerie im Gerngross 2nd floor | 1070 Vienna, Mariahilfer Straße 42-48

All architecture depends on the dimensions of man. Le Corbusier created the Modulor from human dimensions. This is stored in the Archiquant.

The Archiquant is a new geometric figure.  
The width B is its radius R. Its depth T is the golden ratio of B or R.  
The archiquant can be constructed using a compass and ruler.  
The archiquant is a metastructure.  
The archiquant is the concentrate of the modulator.  
The archiquant is a tool and a spiritual being.  
The archiquant is an architectural particle.

Heidulf Gerngross, ABC des Raumes

#KunstTRANSFER

In this day and age, in which sustainability and the creation of meaning have become the focus of almost all thinking, the work of Heidulf Gerngross is a shining example of how art, architecture, language and design can go hand in hand. His visions, all deeply rooted in the concept of sustainability, are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also a statement for responsible creation. Gerngross embodies the universalist par excellence. With his extensive experience in art, design and architecture, he shows that it is possible to excel in all these areas without compromising.

The 2002 Venice Architecture Biennale participant is not only an innovator, but also someone who does not always think conformistically. His social housing projects, particularly in Vienna, are testimony to his commitment to social justice and his vision of a sustainable future. His approach, which is characterized by an international approach and a deep understanding of cultural diversity, also contributes to cultural transfer and shows how art can transcend the boundaries of nations and cultures.

As a tireless and ever-bubbling source of creative energy, Gerngross shows that true genius knows no age limits. He is charismatic and down-to-earth at the same time, a new and different thinker, an eternally young person. His likeable nature and his ability to convey complex ideas in a simple and understandable way make him a role model for artists and creatives of every generation.

In conclusion, Heidulf Gerngross' work in the ARCHIQUANT exhibition is not only a celebration of his work, but also an inspiration for all those who believe in the transformative power of art and architecture. With his visionary approach and tireless commitment, he is a shining example of how art, design, architecture, creativity per se can have a positive impact on the world.

Publications

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Archiquant

4.72 MB Kataloge

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Cover Image
Star 20 Jubiläumsausgabe 2023/12

227.07 KB Print Medien

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Exhibited artworks

3
artist
74
artworks

artist info

Selbstportrait Heidulf Gerngross Jubiläumsausgabe ST/A/R Nr. 43

Selbstportrait Heidulf Gerngross Jubiläumsausgabe ST/A/R Nr. 43

Heidulf Gerngross

Heidulf Gerngross, a true master of the architectural and painterly, has left an incomparable mark on the world of art and architecture over the course of his impressive career. Born in November 1939 in idyllic Kötschach-Mauthen, his creative journey began as a journeyman carpenter at the Felbertal Werkschulheim in 1957, followed by his A-levels a year later. His thirst for knowledge led him to Vienna, where he studied architecture from 1958 to 1961, before embarking on an inspiring trip around the world from 1961 to 1962.

In Tokyo in 1962, Gerngross discovered his love of painting, a passion that would never let him go. However, he returned to Austria to continue his architecture studies in Graz from 1965 to 1968. There he joined forces with like-minded visionaries such as Bernhard Hafner, Konrad Frey and Helmut Richter, and their joint student work laid the foundations for the renowned Graz School. His journey took him to Los Angeles, where he studied Urban Land Economics at UCLA from 1968 to 1972.

Gerngross' breakthrough came with the creation of the spatial alphabet with 24 positions, an impressive materialization of language in the form of a right angle. This innovative concept also found its way into his first book, the Volksbuch, which was partly published in the spatial alphabet in 1978.

In 1976, he founded the Gerngross-Richter architecture firm together with Helmut Richter. In the early 1980s, they created a key work on the Austrian architecture scene with the extension to Haus Königseder in Upper Austria. Gerngross' vision extended far beyond traditional architectural boundaries; he planned over 300 social housing units in Vienna, including the first Viennese loft development.

In 1995, Gerngross made a groundbreaking discovery: the design molecule Archiquant. This molecule became his creative wonder weapon, with which he not only created architecture, but also furniture, jewellery and the world construction kit Vinzenz - an architectural construction kit named after his youngest son.
In 2002, Gerngross represented Austria at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, where his works casa privata, sphera indefinita and aula discorsiva took centre stage. His architectural model capella bianca made such an impression that it was purchased by the MAK Vienna.

In August 2007, the Gerngross Column was unveiled by Franz West, a monument in honour of Gerngross' work and friendship, realized by the City of Vienna's Department of Culture. A year later, in 2008, his life's work was honoured with the City of Vienna Prize.

Gerngross' art is not limited to architecture. In 2009, he curated the exhibition The Game of the Mighty at the MAK Vienna, in which he presented Franz West's Nageltower, among other works. He had his first exhibition in 1962 at the Ginza Gallery in Tokyo, together with Ulf von Maydell. In the years that followed, he took part in numerous group exhibitions, including at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York in 2003, the Kunsthaus Zug in Switzerland in 2005 and the Shusev State Museum of Architecture in Moscow in 2011.

Heidulf Gerngross, father of six children, lives and works in Vienna. His life's work is an impressive testimony to his creative genius, his vision and his tireless pursuit of innovative architectural and artistic solutions.