From abstracted figures and signs A. R. Penck created a universal vocabulary and used it to analyse the relationship between society and the individual. Through his multi-media works, consisting of painting, sculpture, drawing, print, film, music, and manifestoes, he developed an unique style, the formal language of which led to enormous popularity, even beyond the limits of the traditional art system. Although he lived in the GDR until 1980, his gallerist Michael Werner arranged a solo exhibition in Cologne in 1968. In 1971 he also had a solo show in Haus Lange in Krefeld and in 1972 took part in documenta 5. In 1971 Fred Jahn organised his first exhibition in Munich at Gallery Heiner Friedrich.
Characteristic of this seemingly simple yet memorable pictorial cosmos are his humorous reflections, his emotional impetus and a theory that underpins his entire artistic project, one he had been developing from the late fifties on. In dealing with modern cybernetics, Penck found his conceptual inventory, including terms such as system, element, function, information, and standard, among others. This led him to experiment with signs and their constellations as well as the signifying character of signs and symbols. The term ‘system’ became essential and overarching; he referred to the “picture as system – system as picture”.
Penck, who was born in 1939 as Ralf Winkler and died in the spring of 2017 in Zurich, was subjected to reprisals and restrictions due to his status as a non-conformist artist under the GDR regime. In 1980 he was relocated to West Germany. This new world of experience resulted in a new type of painting, which, as he himself said, became increasingly more dynamic and abstract. Inner conflicts with capitalism and the situation after the end of the Cold War introduced new themes into his work; influences from free jazz and rock were also present. Serious self-analysis, which Penck had undertaken from the start, regularly prompted him to adopt pseudonyms – one being A. R. Penck, named after an ice-age researcher, or Mike Hammer – each of which stood in relation to his personal, social or political situation.
Vita
1939
Born Ralf Winkler on October 5th in Dresden
1953—1954
Painting and drawing lessons with Jürgen Böttcher
1955—1956
Apprenticeship as a draftsman at VEB DEWAG (Volkseigener Betrieb Deutsche Werbe- und Anzeigengesellschaft), which he aborts
Unsuccessfully applies to the art academy in Dresden
Gets to know Hans-Georg Kern (Baselitz)
1961
Participates in the annual exhibition “Junge Künstler. Malerei” of the Academy of Arts of the GDR. The pictures are panned by critics
1965
Takes part in an exhibition in the Pushkin House in Dresden.
Makes the acquaintance of Michael Werner through Georg Baselitz
1966
Admission as a candidate into the Association of Creative Artists (VBK), later rejected by the jury (1969)
1968
Adopts the pseudonym A.R. Penck, referring to the geologist and ice age researcher Albrecht Penck (1858-1945)
First solo exhibtion at Galerie Hake, Cologne, organized by Michael Werner
1971
Founding member of the group “Lücke” (until 1976)
1972
Participation at documenta 5 in Kassel
1974
Receives the International Prize of the Triennale in Switzerland
1975
First retrospective in the Kunsthalle Bern
Awarded theWill-Grohmann-Preis of the Akademy of the Arts in West Berlin
1977
Participation at documenta 6 in Kassel
Meets Jörg Immendorff in East Berlin, they found a artists’ collective
1980
Departure to the Federal Republic of Germany
Friendship with Markus Lüpertz and Per Kirkeby, visits to Joseph Beuys
1981
Awarded the Rembrandt Prize of the Goethe-Stiftung Basel
1982
Participation at documenta 7 in Kassel
Editor of the magazine “Krater und Wolke”
1983
Participation at 17. Biennale of São Paulo
Move to London, later to Dublin
1984
Represents the Federal Republic of Germany at the 41st Venice Biennale with Lothar Baumgarten
1985
Awarded the art prize of the city of Aachen
1987
Receives the Art Prize of NORD / LB
1989
Professorship at the Art Academy Düsseldorf
1991
Studio in Berlin
1992
Participation at documenta 9 in Kassel
1998
Extensive touring exhibition in Japan
2003
Lives and works in Dublin, Irland
2017
Dies on May 2, 2017 in Zurich
Selected Shows
2020
A.R. Penck – Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague
2019
A. R. Penck. "Ich aber komme aus Dresden (check it out man, check it out)" – Albertinum, Dresden
A. R. Penck. Jetzt 1988 (Now 1988) – Galerie Michael Werner, Märkisch Wilmersdorf
2018
A. R. Penck. Memorial to an Unknown East German Soldier – Michael Werner, New York
A. R. Penck. Transformer – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
2017
A.R. Penck – Fondation Maeght, St. Paul de Vence
Rodin, L’exposition du Centenaire – La Réunion des musées nationaux, Grand Palais, Paris
Animal Farm – The Brant Foundation, Connecticut
Landschaften – Galerie Michael Werner, Märkisch Wilmersdorf
A.R. Penck – Galerie Kewenig, Palma
2016
Markus Lüpertz and A.R. Penck. In Dialogue – Lee Eugean Gallery, Seoul
A.R. Penck. Neue Arbeiten – Galerie Michael Werner, Märkisch Wilmersdorf
A.R. Penck. Early Works – Michael Werner Gallery, New York
2015
A.R. Penck. Between Light and Shadow – Michael Werner Gallery, New York; Galerie Michael Werner, Märkisch Wilmersdorf
A.R. Penck. Skulpturen – Neue & Alte Kunst, Basel
Post-Germanic Expressions. Gift from Michael Werner – The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
A.R. Penck. Early Works – Michael Werner Gallery, London
2014
A.R. Penck. Felt Works 1972–1995 – Michael Werner Gallery, New York
Germany Divided. Baselitz and his Generation – British Museum, London
Jörg Immendorff / A.R. Penck. Eine deutsch-deutsche Künstlerfreundschaft – Museum Kelkheim, Kelkheim
2013
A.R. Penck. New Paintings – Michael Werner Gallery, New York; Galerie Michael Werner, Märkisch Wilmersdorf
A.R. Penck – Kunstakademie, Düsseldorf
2012
Rendez-vous der Maler II. Malerei an der Kunstakademie Düsseldorf von 1986 bis heute – Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
The Michael Werner Collection. I sat Beauty on my knees. (...) And I reviled Her. – Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris
Abschied von Ikarus. Bildwelten in der DDR. Neu gesehen – Neues Museum, Weimar
2011
A.R. Penck. Zeichnungen und Skulpturen 1970er und 1980er Jahre – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
2010
C’est la Vie! – Musée Maillol, Paris
A.R. Penck – Kunsthalle Rostock
A.R. Penck. Vergangenheit Gegenwart, Zukunft – Museum Ludwig, Cologne
2009
Paint Made Flesh – Frist Center for the Visual Art Nashville, Tennessee; The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, New York
Art of Two Germanys/Cold War Cultures – LACMA, Los Angeles; Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg; Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin
- The Great Innocents – Kunsthalle Bielefeld, Bielefeld
A.R. Penck – Museum Weserburg, Bremen
2008
Paintings 1963–77 – Galleri Bo Bjerggaard, Copenhagen
A.R. Penck. Peinture, Système – Monde, Musée d’Art moderne de la ville de Paris
Black Swan. A Sculpture Show – Michael Werner, London
A.R. Penck. Paintings from the Eighties – Michael Werner Gallery, New York
2007
A.R. Penck. Der Begriff Modell – Neues Museum/Staatliches Museum für Kunst und Design, Nürnberg
A.R. Penck. Retrospective – Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt and Kunsthalle zu Kiel
Selection – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
A.R. Penck. Bilder aus den 60er Jahren – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne; Michael Werner Gallery, New York
A Selection from 1980 to 2006 – Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau
A.R. Penck. Paintings and Drawings from the 60s and 70s – Galerie Daniel Blau, Munich
2006
A.R. Penck – Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York
Georg Baselitz, Jörg Immendorff, Markus Lüpertz, A.R. Penck – Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai
Beautiful Cynicism – Arario Beijing, Beijing
2005
A.R. Penck. Retrospective 1978–2002. Paintings and Sculpture – Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki
Works on Paper – Michael Werner Gallery, New York
A.R. Penck. New Paintings – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
First Presentation – Akademie-Galerie/Die neue Sammlung, Düsseldorf
2004
A.R. Penck. Paintings from the Seventies – Michael Werner Gallery, New York
A.R. Penck. Constructions – Michael Werner Gallery, New York
German Art from an American View – Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt
2003
A.R. Penck. Weltsicht 1968–2002 – Museum Küppersmühle Sammlung Grothe, Duisburg
2002
A.R. Penck. Neue Bilder – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
2001
A.R. Penck. Frühe Bilder. Dauerleihgaben aus Privatbesitz – Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Chemnitz
2000
Georg-Kolbe-Museum, Berlin Foundation for Sculpture, Berlin
Sinclair-Haus, Bad Homburg
1999
A.R. Penck. Bronzeskulpturen – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
Kunsthalle Recklinghausen
1997—1998
A.R. Penck. German Darkness and Contemporary Symbol – Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo; Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima; The Museum of Art, Kochi
1996
A.R. Penck. Pintura y escultura –Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City
1995
Couplet 4. A.R. Penck. Sculptures – Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
A.R. Penck – Galleryism, Seoul
A.R. Penck. Zeichnungen der Jahre 1965–1978 – Sammlung Ludwig, Aachen
1993
A.R. Penck. Grossskulptur – Deutsche Bank, Luxembourg
1992
documenta 9
A.R. Penck. Bronze-Skulpturen und Zeichnungen – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
A.R. Penck in Dresden. Analyse einer Situation – Gemäldegalerie Neue Meister im Albertinum, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden
A.R. Penck. Standart-Modelle – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
1991
A.R. Penck. Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures and Ceramics from the Visser Collections – Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam
The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
1990
Gruppenausstellung (Penck, Hitzler, Uhlmann) – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1989
A.R. Penck – Mary Boone Gallery, New York
A.R. Penck – Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall, Stockholm
1988
A.R. Penck – Nationalgalerie, Berlin
A.R. Penck. Skulpturen und Zeichnungen – Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover
Tekeningen. A.R. Penck – Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
1987
A.R. Penck. The Northern Darkness. Recent Sculpture / New Painting – Orchard Gallery, Londonderry
A.R. Penck. Zeichnungen und Druckgraphische Werke im Basler Kupferstichkabinett – Städtisches Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach
A.R. Penck – Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
1986
A.R. Penck. Sculptures – Galerie Maeght Lelong, Zurich
1985
A.R. Penck. Mike Hammer Konsequenzen – Städtisches Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach
1984
Venice Biennale
Galerie Watari, Tokyo
A.R. Penck. Paintings and Drawings 1980–1982 – Maeght Lelong, Zurich
Waddington Galeries, London
A.R. Penck. Recent Paintings – Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo
1983
A. R. Penck. Zeichnungen auf Wellpappe 1981/82 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1982
documenta 7
A.R. Penck – Galerie Lucio Amelio, Naples
A.R.Penck. 45 Zeichnungen. Bewußtseinsschichten – Kunstmuseum Bonn
A. R. Penck. Arbeiten auf Papier – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1981
A.R. Penck – Kunstmuseum Basel
A.R. Penck. Gemälde und Handzeichnungen – Josef- Haubrich-Kunsthalle, Cologne
a.Y (A.R. Penck) T. Standart-West – Kunsthalle Bern
A. R. Penck. Frühe Bilder – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
A.R. Penck. Paintings – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
1980
A.R. Penck. Zeichnungen und Aquarelle – Städtisches Museum Leverkusen, Schloss Morsbroich, Leverkusen
1979
A.R. Penck. Concept of Conceptual Space – Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam
1978
A.R. Penck. Y. Zeichnungen bis 1975, Kunstmuseum Basel; Mannheimer Kunstverein, Haus des Kunstvereins, Mannheim
A.R. Penck – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Bündner Kunstmuseum, Chur
Museum Ludwig, Cologne
1977
documenta VI
Immendorff mal Penck, Penck mal Immendorff – Galerie Werner, Cologne
1975
A.R. Penck. Penck Mal TM – Kunsthalle Bern, Bern
A.R. Penck – Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
1973
A.R. Penck – L’Uomo e l’Arte, Milan
Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich
Wide White Space, Antwerp
1972
documenta V
A.R. Penck. Training mit Standart – Galerie im Goethe-Institute/Provisorium, Amsterdam
1971
Galerie Heiner Friedrich, Munich
A.R. Penck – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
Zeichen als Verständigung. A.R. Penck – Museum Haus Lange, Krefeld
1970
A.R. Penck. Erstes Training mit Standart – Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
1968
Deutsche Avantgarde 3. A.R. Penck. Bilder – Galerie Hake, Cologne
