German
Basic Data
Carsten Nicolai is an internationally renowned contemporary artist who, as a border crosser, has been moving at the interface of visual art, music and scientific knowledge since the 1990s.
- Born: 1965
- Place of birth: Chemnitz, Saxony
- Nationality: German
- Studied at: Landscape architecture in Dresden
- Similar artists: Olaf Nicolai
- Era: Contemporary art
- Stylistic direction: Multimedia art, abtract art / figurative art
Biography
Carsten Nicolai was born on September 18, 1965 in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz). He first studied landscape architecture in Dresden. His first exhibitions as a visual artist took place in the gallery EIGEN + ART in Berlin and Leipzig. Following his participation in important international exhibitions, such as documenta x and the 49th and 50th Venice Biennale, Nicolai's works have been shown in extensive solo and group exhibitions worldwide.
In addition, Nicolai is also active as a musician and is one of the best known representatives of contemporary electronic music. Under the pseudonyms "alva noto" he released a large number of recordings, which he performed at numerous live performances worldwide in concert halls, clubs and museums.
Carsten Nicolai is best known for his interdisciplinary artworks, in which he experiments with audio and visual art forms and creates hybrid objects across the boundaries of art and music that make scientific phenomena tangible. Inspired by physical processes and structures, he thus creates sound performances, minimalist sound installations and sounding sculptures.
Carsten Nicolai currently lives and works in Berlin.
Exhibitions
- 21.11.2021 – 29.05.2022 Calder Now – Kunsthal Rotterdam.
- 04.06.2021 – 31.10.2021 Skulptur & Natur - Schlossgut Schwante, Oberkrämer.
- 27.05.2021 – 05.09.2021 Sound and Silence: Der Klang Der Stille in Der Kunst Der Gegenwart – Kunstmuseum Bonn.
- 02.03.2021 – 16.05.2021 RESET - Museum Haus Konstruktiv, Zürich.
- 01.10.2020 – 31.01.2021 Stories of Abstraction: Contemporary Latin American Art in the Global Context – Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix.
- 09.09.2020 – 18.11.2020 STUDIO BERLIN - Halle am Berghain, Berlin.
- 28.09.2019 - 19.01.2020 Carsten Nicolai - Parallax Symmetry - K20/K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein Westfalen, Dusseldorf
- 11.05.2019 - 24.11.2019 58. Venice Biennale 2019 - Venice Biennale, Venice.
- 23.03.2018 - 03.09.2018 CARSTEN NICOLAI. TELE - Berlinische Galerie, Berlin.
- 08.04.2017 - 11.06.2017 EXTENDED COMPOSITIONS - Centre Pasquart, Biel/Bienne.
- 01.07.2016 - 03.10.2016 Carsten Nicolai. unidisplay - Copenhagen Contemporary (CC), Copenhagen.
- 06.09.2015 - 08.11.2015 Carsten Nicolai. unitape - Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz.
Awards
- 2014: 17th Japan Media Arts Festival, Grand Prize.
- 2012: Giga-Hertz-Prize, Karlsruhe.
- 2007: Fellowship Villa Massimo, Rome.
- 2007: Zurich Prize, Zurich.
- 2003: Fellowship Villa Aurora, Los Angeles.
- 2001: Prix Ars Electronica, Golden Nica, Linz.
- 2000: f6-Philip Morris, graphic prize, Dresden.
- 2000: Prix Ars Electronica, Golden Nica, Linz.
- 1990: Jürgen Ponto Prize, Frankfurt/Main.
Literature
- Carsten Nicolai - tele, exhibition catalog, Berlinische Galerie (Publ.), Berlin 2018.
- Carsten Nicolai, Polyfoto, exhibition catalog, Institut für Moderne Kunst Nürnberg (Publ.), Leipzig, Frankfurt/Main 2018.
- Ur-Geräusch: Rainer Maria Rilke vs. Carsten Nicolai, exhibition catalog, Jule Hillgärtner (Publ.), Leipzig 2016.
- Carsten Nicolai: parallel lines cross at infinity, exhibition catalog, Gerd Harry Lybke (Publ.), Berlin 2015.
- Erzählen und Wissen: narrative Strategien in der zeitgenössischen Kunst, Melanie Franke (Publ.), Nuremberg 2013.
Collections
Denmark
- Roskilde - Museum of Contemporary Art
Germany
- Berlin - Kunstsaele Berlin
- Bonn - Bonner Kunstverein
- Chemnitz - Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz
- Leipzig - Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst
- Leverkusen - Museum Morsbroich
- Stuttgart - Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
England
- London - Saatchi Gallery
France
- Reims - Frac Champagne-Ardenne
Japan
- Kanazawa - 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Weblinks
- Carsten Nicolai Kunstaspekte exhibition and collection overview.
- Official Website of the artist.
