Gunther Uecker

Günther Uecker is a well-known German artist. At the end of the 1950s he created his first nail pictures. In 1961 he joined the ZERO group, which was founded by Heinz Mack and Otto Piene. In 1962, with Mack and Piene, Uecker set up a “Salon de lumière” in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and in the Palais des Beaux Arts in Paris, and other salons followed in other cities. The light works are characterized by the exploration of optical phenomena, structural sequences and areas of vibration. The viewer is actively included and can influence the visual process himself through motorized or manual interventions. After the ZERO group disbanded in 1966, Ücker increasingly devoted himself to his nail paintings. He goes so far as to nail furniture, musical instruments and household appliances . He also combines nails with the light theme, creating series of light nails and kinetic nails. Ücker travels a lot and finds his inspiration primarily in Asian culture. Ultimately, his works are always political, for example, after the Chernobyl catastrophe, the series “Aschebilder” was created.

born 1930 in Wendorf, Mecklenburg
1949 Studied painting, Wismar
Art school in Berlin-Weissensee
In 1955 he studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy
1975-1995 teaching at the Düsseldorf Art Academy
1957 master student with Ernst Schumacher
1957 First exhibition as a guest of the Berlin Neue Gruppe.
1979 Participation in the Venice Biennale
1984-1985 stays in Japan, Siberia, China, Iceland and Mongolia
1961 Joined the artist group ZERO
1970 One of the German representatives at the Venice Biennale together with Thomas Lenk, Heinz Mack and Georg Karl Pfahler
1971-1974 work stays in South America, Africa and Asia
1984-1985 stays in Japan, Siberia, China, Iceland and Mongolia
Since the 1980s works with political issues
1974-1995 Professor at the Art Academy in Düsseldorf
1999 Design of the prayer room in the new Reichstag building in Berlin
2008 co-founder of the Zero foundation
Lives and works in Düsseldorf and St. Gallen