1991 I came to New York to study with Hans Haacke at Cooper Union. He asked me why I wanted to repeat my “Abitur” here and proposed me to approach galleries instead. Rather disappointed I did–and luckily I had my first solo-show with Foster Goldstrom Gallery at 560 B’way, SoHo.
WORLD FREELIFE FOUND
is my 1990-92 art brand and the title of my first solo show at Foster Goldstrom Gallery in 560 Broadway, SoHo, New York dealing with the relation between the individual and the society, the author and the audience, the sent, the ment and the received message. WFF ironically relates to the WWF and my name, what translates “freelife” which seems to serve as the motto to the entire western world. I collected art project ideas on the always same postcards which show “Trooping the Colour” covering deindividuation and combat readiness with attraction by structure, beauty and pryde.
At Foster Goldstrom Gallery, NY, a huge pennon with 211 postcard-ideas and an out of reach hang down letter were the center objects of the show.
THROUGH THIS I met many other artists to be around with in the conceptual places like Pat Hearn, Colin’s AFA, metro-pictures, Blum Helman’s warehouse, AC-project room, PS1, feature …
Even though I liked my WORLD FREELIFE FOUND concept I was dissatisfied about the associative use of language which kept me away from my subtle longings and my deep urge for what I felt being on this absurd funky planet.
Donald Judd happened to live right across the crossroads to me in 101 Spring Street. At night, when I was in bed reading “Doktor Faustus” by Thomas Mann, I could see when Judd was in his bedroom too–beautifully illuminated by his Dan Flavin installation. This came to me as THE shining minimal and essential crown to strive for. At the same time coming in severe conflict with the rich density of composed layers of Mann’s Doktor Faustus as this came as a real awakening too. How could a conceptual work of art ever cover these layers, richness, aspects, background … that Mann composed in his book? Both aims were splitting my chest. Not knowing how to progress at all, it was clear that I had to drop my current approach.
Two girls, Andy Rieber and Carolla Zap, I met at Fanally’s invited me to prepare a show for their “Alternative Art Space” at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.