Erwin Thorn
APROPOS BLEI in Anbetracht der Wörter, die Beredsamkeit der Folie
At the exhibition space Georg Kargl Permanent we present a new work by Erwin Thorn in the exhibition Aropros Blein: Considering Words, the Eloquence of Foil. As the title already indicates, at issue here is an installation conceived especially for the space that is the result of an approach to lead as a material. In so doing, the artist playfully explored its composition as well as the perspective of perception. Just as in Thorn’s early works from the 1960s and 1970s, here too a curiosity about the execution of formal concepts, an interest in visual communication, as well as irony and humor are central to his work.
The initial inspiration for his engagement with lead foil was a visit to an exhibition in 2005. In using the metal, Thorn empirically developed a new understanding of the material that lead him to conclude that it is a “material without memory.” It can be altered in shape without any resistance and metaphorically forgets its original form. At the same time, each change is inscribed in the five meter long lead foil; each intervention leaves its traces.
With the various ways and forms in which lead can be used, in all its aggregate states, for issue at issue is ultimately the “eloquence” of the foil itself. This serves best as a reference for lead. The ultimate character of the work as it is presented now in the exhibition space is the result of a process of “regressive” revision and implies from the very start a certain degree of failure.
The work of this artist, born in Vienna in 1930, can be located in the context of the conceptual avant-garde. Initially influenced by Karl Prantl, bythe mid-1960s he was soon participating in exhibitions from the realm of the ZERO group. All the same, Thorn’s work remained a very autonomous, singular position. His work has been on view at individual exhibitions at the Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Galerie im Taxispalsis in Innsbruck, and most recently at Georg Kargl BOX.
Biography
1930 - Vienna - 2012
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
approaching space - androgynous, approaching space - meta-a-morphosis, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
2010
Apropos Blei, in Anbetracht der Wörter, die Beredsamkeit der Folie, Georg Kargl Permanent, Vienna
2008
Erwin Thon, Georg Kargl Box, Vienna
1979
Arbeiten 1959-1979 und work in progress - Dokumentation, Modern Art Galerie, Vienna
1972
Spiele Spielen, Galerie nächst St. Stephan, Vienna
1971
WEISS, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Vienna
1970
Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck
1969
Galerie nächst St. Stephan, Vienna
1967
Österreichisches Kulturforum, Rome
1964
Galerie Wulfengasse 14, Klagenfurt
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
Blind Date - Die Sammlung Maximilian und Agathe Weishaupt im Dialog mit der Sammlung Liaunig, Museum Liaunig, Neuhaus
Pop Art, The Bright Side of Life, Albertina Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg
From Fibre to Form, Kunthaus Dahlem, Berlin
2023
Picture This! The Belvedere Collection from Cranach to EXPORT, Belvedere, Vienna
2022
Lost in Space, Raum, Ding und Figur – Entwicklungen innerhalb der Skulptur seit 1945, Museum Liaunig, Neuhaus/Suha
2021
Avantgarde und Gegenwart. Die Sammlung Belvedere von Lassnig bis Knebl, Belvedere 21, Vienna
2020
The Beginning. Kunst in Österreich 1945 - 1980, Albertina Modern, Vienna
2019
Alfred Schmeller. Das Museum als Unruheherd, mumok, Vienna
2018
CONCENTRATION - a tribute, Gesellschaft für projektive Ästhetik, Georg Kargl, Vienna
Umrahmung schräg gekippt. Sammlung Liaunig in Bewegung, Museum Liaunig, Neuhaus
Reduction, Gesellschaft für Projektive Ästhetik, Georg Kargl, Vienna
2017
Ästhetik der Veränderung. 150 Jahre Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien, MAK, Vienna
European Abstraction from the 1960’s & 1970’s, Stellan Holm Gallery, New York
2016
Carol Bove meets ZERO, Galerie Koch, Hannover
2015
Zero. Positionen, Galerie Koch, Hannover
2014
Impulse, Reason, Sense, Conflict, CIFO – Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation, Miami
Texte in der Kunst, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
2013
Zero Avantgards 1965 – 2013, Galleria Christian Stein, Milan
2012
1964, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
2010
High Ideals & Crazy Dreams-Groupshow, curated by Gerwald Rockenschaub, Galerie Vera Munro, Hamburg
Personal Structures. Time – Space – Existence, Künstlerhaus Palais Thun und Taxis, Bregenz
Personal Structures. Time – Space – Existence, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
Fine Line, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
2009
Feedbackstage, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
Feedbackstage, Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin
2001
Farbenlust und Formgedanken. Abstrakte Wege in Österreich 1900-2000, Heiligenkreuzerhof, Vienna
2000
Farbenlust und Formgedanke. Abstrakte Wege in Österreich 1900-2000, Frauenbad, Baden bei Wien
1996
Die 60er Jahre oder als alles möglich wurde. Kunst und Kultur in Österreich 1960-1970, Schloß Herberstein, St. Johann bei Herberstein
1984
1984 - Orwell und die Gegenwart, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Vienna
1971
Aquarelle - Druckgraphik - Handzeichungngen - Plastik, Galerie Krinzinger, Bregenz
1970
Nebenprodukte, Galerie nächst St. Stephan, Vienna
Österreichische Kunst 1979, Schloß Eggenberg, Graz
1969
Hommage an das Schweigen, Tiroler Kunstpavillon, Innsbruck
Surrealismus ohne Surrealisten - Künstler ohne Kunst, Galerie nächst St. Stephan, Vienna
Surrealismus ohne Surrealisten - Künstler ohne Kunst, Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck
1968
Werke der III. Internationale Malerwoche, Neue Galerie Joanneum, Graz
Neue Dimensionen der Plastik in Österreich, Galerie Taxispalais, Innsbruck
Plastiken und Objekte, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Vienna
Symposium, Retzhof
1966
Zero avantgarde 1966, Galleria associazione Zen, Brescia
Zero avantgarde 1966, Il Segno, Rome
Konfrontation 66, Galerie Heide Hildebrand, Klagenfurt
1965
Bischoffshausen, Hartlauer, Prantl, Thorn, Forum Stadtpark, Graz
Zero avantgarde 1965, Atelier di Fontana, Milan
Zero avantgarde 1965, Galleria del Cavallino, Venice
Zero avantgarde 1965, Galleria il Punto, Turin
Aspekten van een nieuwe Konseptiez, Galerie 20, Arnhem
Biennale nova tendencija III, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb
1964
Biennale Art Sacre, Paris
1962
Symposion Europäischer Bildhauer – Kleinplastiken, Galerie im Griechenbeisl, Vienna
1960
International Biennal of Prints, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati (OH)
Sommerausstellung, Galerie im Griechenbeisl, Vienna
Galerie Junge Generation, Vienna
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