MATTHIAS CONTZEN
ABOUT ME
The main Inspiration and Motivation of my work as a sculptor, is the deep desire to disentangle the true nature of Form. Where does Form comes from and why does it mysteriously manifest in a certain way, following a sacred, hidden pattern, tangible in the whole UNIVERSE, both in micro and macro structures of all the elements? That is the core question, propelling my livelong artistic research.
At the beginning of my career I was very much inspired by both, nature itself and other artists inspired by nature, like Henry Moore, Max Ernst and Jean Arp. I was also fascinated by the approach used by Ernst and Arp, which is called the Free Association: By clearing the mind and looking at the chaos in a contemplative way, one is enabled to get a glimpse of the essence or “truth” beyond reality and translate it intuitively into an inspired artwork, avoiding the ratio and the planning of the mind, which could lead to “artificial” results. The theory of Plato’s Universe of Ideas says, that beyond our World of illusion, imperfection, impurities and changes, which is our material World, there is a real world of forms, were Perfection, Beauty and Truth always existed and eternally will exist as a concept. I see it as my artistic challenge to approach these eternal Qualities as much as possible and transcribe them into matter. Some 30 years ago, I first heard about the concept, that form follows Sound and Frequencies, in Joachim E. Berendt s Book “The World is Sound”. I was very impressed by his Theory, which explains, that any Form on Earth is created by sound and also that all the planets in our solar system are tuned, following the exact frequency and proportions of the 7 tones in our Music Scale.
The reasons I started with the planet series six years ago were the following:
In the first place I was tired of having a square block as a starting point to sculpture and secondly I discovered the work of Ernst Hackel about the Art Forms of the ocean, especially the Diatoms. With their exquisitely beautiful silica shells Diatoms are among the most fascinating and inspiring microfossils/ microstructures. Some rocks are formed almost entirely of fossil diatoms and curiously, not only symbolically, become my raw material to work on. As I started with the Planets and the other sculptures, using the diamond hollow drill as a main sculpting tool, my sculptures became much lighter, more transparent, and each time more intuitive. The working process is now less planned and more like an improvisation of a musician. It is also more fun. My goal now is trying to transform consciousness directly into matter. I imagine the planet sculptures as a frozen 3D Image of the Universe, microseconds after its own creation (Big Bang), driven by the force of sound. I imagine the materialization of the eternal sacred pattern, the so-called cosmic conciseness, into matter and form. “Emptiness is Form. Form is emptiness.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Matthias Contzen (b. 1964, Aschaffenburg, Germany).
Lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal.
Based in Portugal since 1998, Matthias Contzen is a multimedia artist who employs marble, sound and light as material. His work is represented in several continents, in both private and public collections, in New York, Germany, France, Luxemburg, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, England, China, Switzerland and India. In 2009, Contzen founded SCULPTURE.FACTORY, a multipurpose center that serves as workshop and art gallery located in Sintra, of which he is artistic director. Contzen is represented by Loo & Lou Gallery and Galerie Dutko, both in Paris, Callan Contemporary, in New Orleans LA, USA and São Mamede Gallery, in Lisbon.
EDUCATION
1998 MA in Stone Sculpture from Mayen/Koblenz Academy, Germany
1995 Object Design Arts and Crafts Guild, Saar College of Fine Arts, Saarbrucken, Germany
1991 Sculpture Apprenticeship Course, Chamber of Handicrafts, Munich, Germany
1987 BA in Sculpture, European Academy of Fine Art Trier, Germany
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 Universe, Galerie Lou & Loo—Haut Marais, Paris, France
For You—Mandala, Galerie Loo & Lou—Georges V, Paris
2014 Planet, Nuit Blanche of Paris (October 4th) Commissioned by Lou & Loo Foundation, Luxembourg
2013 In Beauty We Trust, SCULPTURE.FACTORY, Sintra, Portugal
2012 My Pocket Universe, Cidadela Art District, Cascais, Portugal
2010 Berliner Liste, International Contemporary Art Fair, Berlin, Germany
2009 Além do Real, Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon, Portugal
2006 Retrospectiva, Museu da Pedra, Cantanhede, Portugal
Objectos de Memória, São Mamede Gallery, Lisbon
2005 Recent Works, Galeria Municipal Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal
2001 Evoluções, Galeria Art Konstant, Lisbon
Contzentração, Cascais Culture Centre, Cascais
2000 Recent Works, Bank of Portugal, Lisbon
1999 Pedra Viva, Fábrica das Artes, Torres Vedras, Portugal
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 XIIth Triennale-India, New Delhi
2018 Inaugural Exhibition, Town Museum, Cascais
Paris Art Fair, Grand Pallais Paris. In partnership with Loo & Lou Gallery
PAD, Paris Art and Design Fair, Paris. In partnership with Gallery Dutko
Collect, Saatchi Gallery, London. In partnership with Gallery Dutko
2017 Scope Art Fair, Callan Contemporary, Miami, USA
2016 Scope Art Fair, Callan Contemporary, Miami, USA
BRAFA Art Fair, Galerie Dutko, Brussels, Belgium
2015 BRAFA Art Fair, Galerie Dutko
Ombres & Lumières, Galerie Dutko Bonaparte, Paris
2014 Infiniment Art, Galerie Dutko Bonaparte, Paris
The Essence of Human Being, Batalha Monastery, Batalha, Portugal
Art Breda, Continuum Gallery, Breda, The Netherlands
2013 Uttarayan Art Foundation II International Sculpture Symposium, Boroda, India
Art.Fair Cologne, Continuum Gallery, Köln, Germany
In the Heat of the Night, Continuum Gallery, Königswinter, Germany
2012 Reloaded, Sculpture.Factory, Sintra
Escultura de Matthias Contzen, Rui Matos e Vitor Ribeiro, Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon
Colectiva de Escultura, Centro Cultural São Lourenço, Almancil, Portugal
2011 Welcome to my Soul, Art|Form, Estoril, Portugal
1st International Sculpture Exposition, Sculpture.Factory, Sintra
2010 Artelisboa 10, Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon
Colectiva de Verão, Centro Cultural São Lourenço, Almancil
Escultura de Ar Livre’10, Amadora, Portugal
Sculpture Exposition, Continuum Gallery, Königswinter
2009 ARTEMAR 2009, Denis Oppenheim International Public Sculpture Award, Estoril
ArteLivre (public art exhibition), Town Library, Amadora, Portugal
2008 ARTEMAR 2008, International Sculpture Exhibition, Estoril
Exposição Colectiva, Galeria São Mamede, Porto
Escultura Livre, Loures City Museum, Loures, Portugal
Acervo, works from the Centro Cultural São Lourenço Collection, Almancil
2007 Exposição Colectiva, Galeria São Mamede, Porto and Lisbon
ARTE LISBOA International Contemporary Art Fair, Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, Lisbon
VI Prémio Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Amarante, Portugal
2007 III EMAAR International Sculpture Symposium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
II International Sculpture Symposium, Paço de Mariña, La Coruña, Spain
2006 ARTE LISBOA International Contemporary Art Fair, Lisbon
Lapidea VIII, International Sculpture Symposium, Mayen, Germany
2005 I International Stone Sculpture Symposium Ontario, Toronto, Canada
2004 IV Simpósio Internacional de Escultura, Museu da Pedra de Cantanhede, Portugal
SINEP 2004, Câmara de Lobos, Funchal, Portugal
2003 II Simpósio Internacional de Escultura, Sernancelhe, Portugal
2002 II Encontro de Escultura em Pedra, Mafra, Portugal
2001 I Simpósio de Escultura, S. João da Madeira, Portugal
1999 I Simpósio Internacional de Escultura, Cantanhede
I Simpósio Internacional de Escultura, Viseu, Portugal
2005 ArteEstoril, Seteais Palace, Sintra, Portugal
Made in Portugal, Groeneveld Sculpture Park, Almelo, Nehterlands
V Prémio Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Amarante
2004 Objectos de Memória, Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon
International Sculpture Exhibition, Echo Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
Exposição Colectiva, Galeria Domus Varius, Lisbon
ArteEstoril, Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon
Colectiva de Escultura, Casa da Cultura, Funchal
Recent Works by International Artists, Valley Art Gallery, Toronto
2003 Toyamura International Sculpture Biennale, Hokkaido, Japan
IV Prémio Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Amarante
III Prémio de Escultura City Desk, Cascais
ArteEstoril, Centro de Congressos, Estoril
Sculpture Park, ISCAC, Coimbra
Exposição Colectiva, Galeria Valbon, Lisbon
Colectiva de Escultura, Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon
Porto Arte, EXPONOR, Porto
Sintra Arte Pública II, Sintra, Portugal
2002 O Voo das Pedras, Domus Varius Gallery, Lisbon
II Sculpture Award “City Desk”, Cascais Culture Centre
Colectiva de Escultura, Espaço Ilimitado Gallery, Porto
Sintra Arte Pública I, Sintra
Colectiva de Artistas, International Sculpture Centre, Sintra
2001 Maus-Hábitos Inaugural Show, Maus-Hábitos Gallery, Porto
Di-Visões, Espaço T Gallery, Porto 2001 Capital Europeia da Cultura, Porto
Arte Santander, Santander, Spain
Colectiva de Escultura, Fábrica das Artes, Torres Vedras, Portugal
2000 Erótica 2000, Fábrica das Artes, Torres Vedras
ArtHouse, Temporary Gallery, Cascais
1st Sculpture Exhibition, Casa da Guia, Cascais
Sculpture Works, Amadora-Sintra Hospital, Amadora, Portugal
1999 Raquel Prates Gallery, Cascais
1987 Graduation Show, European Academy of Fine Art Trier, Germany
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
2016 “Light of Humanity,” Changsha University, Changsha, China
2013 “Match Box Universe,” Uttarayan Art Foundation, Boroda, India
AWARDS
2014 1st Sculpture Award, VIII VERA World Fine Art Festival, Lisbon, Portugal
2008 Acquisition Award, ARTEMAR ESTORIL, International Sculpture Exhibition, Portugal
2007 Nomination, VI Prémio Amadeo de Sousa Cardoso, Portugal
2006 Lapidea VIII, International Sculpture Symposium, Germany
2005 Nomination, V Prémio Amadeo de Sousa Cardoso, Portugal
2003 Nomination, Toyamura International Sculpture Biennial, Japan
Nomination, IV Prémio Amadeo de Sousa Cardoso, Portugal
2002 1st Sculpture Award, II Sculpture Award City Desk, Portugal
1995 3rd Object Design Award, International Design Competition “Cultures & Matiéres”, Sarrbruecken, Germany and Nancy, France
COMISSIONS
2016 Light of Humanity, Changsha Sculpture Park, Changsha, China
2007 III EMAAR International Sculpture Symposium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
II International Sculpture Symposium, Paço de Mariña, La Coruña, Spain
2006 ArteLisboa International Contemporary Art Fair, Lisbon, Portugal
2005 I International Stone Sculpture Symposium Ontario, Toronto, Canada
2004 IV Simpósio Internacional de Escultura de Cantanhede
SINEP 2004, Ilha da Madeira
2003 II Simpósio Internacional de Escultura de Sernancelhe
2002 II Encontro de Escultura em Pedra, Mafra
2001 I Simpósio de Escultura de S. João da Madeira
1999 I Simpósio Internacional de Escultura de Cantanhede
I Simpósio Internacional de Escultura de Viseu
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Changsha Sculpture Park, Changsha, China
Hurun Report, Shanghai, China
Echo Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
Burj Khalifa, Emaar Art Projects, Dubai, United Emirates
Uttarayan Art Foundation, Baroda, India
La Corunha Royal Palace, La Corunha, Spain
Lapidea Sculpture Park, Mayen, Germany
Volksbank Rhein Ahr Eifel, Mayen
Banco de Portugal, Lisbon
Fundação António Prates, Lisbon
Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Lisbon
Amadora-Sintra Hospital, Lisbon
Vila de Cascais, Cascais
Farol Design Hotel, Cascais
Centro Cultural de Cascais, Cascais
Fundação Dom Luís I, Cascais
Estoril Congress Centre, Estoril
Quinta do Pomar, Funchal, Madeira
Câmara Municipal de Câmara de Lobos, Madeira
Museu da Pedra, Cantanhede, Portugal
Oliveira de Frades, Portugal
Hilton Vilamoura, Vilamoura, Portugal