MARTIN GOSTNER – UN CAMPO DISTESO

“A relaxed field”, a huge plane of soft cotton wool spreads at the entrance of the gallery. For Gostner, cotton wool represents “softness”, “malleability”, which represents an analogy to the “softness” of official and private historiography.
This material, which is both sensual and highly associable, acts as an imaginative reservoir of one owns projections, as well as of the programmatic representation of Gostner’s code, Martin Gostner delves into history not as a linear evolution, but as a circular process. Two works await the visitor in the inner hall of the gallery: “After my death.” (2003), and “Odour within its model” (2005), created especially for this exhibition.
Martin Gostner’s formal language is full of allusions; he wants to bring to light what lies behind, without, however, freeing it, but cutting through the reality that hides under the surface. This gives rise to an intermediate space full of tension, in which the interpretation and assignment of collective memory by calling into question political, social and cultural phenomena, viewing meaning are left to the observer’s imagination. Gostner’s works should be considered as an invitation for the visitor to confront himself/herself with the past, present and future, both personal and collective.

Martin Gostner was born in 1957 in Innsbruck (A). From autumn 2004 he leads a class for sculpture at the Accademy in Düsseldorf (Germany). Important solo shows: Museum Folkwang, Essen, Of Milk And Honey. El Gato Ranch, Big Sur, Dear John. Gabriele Senn Galerie, Vienna, Karma again (2003). Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck, Seitlich aus der Requisite kommend (2002). Secession Wien, Kupferpfandl – und darüber. Neue Galerie Graz, steirischer herbst, All I See I Cover. Gabriele Senn Galerie, Vienna, Entwürfe – Kupferpfandl (2001.) Rupertinum, Salzburg, Apparat für Sonntag. Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck, Video 14. (2000) Kunstraum Johann Widauer, Innsbruck, Leeres Haus, voll von Lärm (1999). Kölnischer Kunstverein, Erinnerung weich (1998). Galerie Hoffmann & Senn, Vienna, Altes, liebes Schlachtfeld (1998). Villa Merkel / Bahnwärterhaus, Esslingen, öde Galle. Galerie Hamelehle & Ahrens, Stuttgart, Guten Tag, kaufen Sie auch Skulpturen? (1997). Galerie Giorgio Persano, Turin, Stepping Into the Shit of History. (1996). Studio Oggetto, Mailand, Vacant Posessions, Erratic Boulders. (1995). Selected group exhibitions: 2005 Fundación Marcelino Botín, Santander, Blancanieves y los siete enamitos. Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck, Arbeit*. – I.Biennale internazionale di scultura, Gorizia/Nova Gorica. Art Metropole,Toronto, Artist Books Revisited. 2004 Büro Friedrich, Berlin/ BAWAG Foundation, Vienna, Funky Lessons. DaimlerChrysler Contemporary, Berlin, Foto, Video, Mixed Media 2. 2003 ZKM Karlruhe, Bankett. Neue Galerie Graz, M_ars Kunst und Krieg. 2002 Palais Tokyo Paris, Je veux, One Star Press.