GERHARD MARX

(b 1976 Johannesburg, South Africa)

Gerhard Marx’s poetic and philosophical visual language is composed through a physical engagement with distinctive material traditions. His process entails careful acts of dissection and rearrangement, which allow Marx to engage the poetic potential and philosophical assumptions of his chosen material in the process of developing original drawing, sculptural and performative languages. A primary focus in his work engages physical depictions of space – ‘spatial imaginaries’ – with an interest in how these descriptions of space affect and shape that which it describes. Marx uses acts of fragmentation and reassembly to construct alternate and deliberately complicated spatial propositions that aspire to hold multiple positionalities, doubled presences, folded histories, spaces that exist across, in between, and amongst.

Completed in 2022 is Locus (Richmond), a public sculpture for the small town of Richmond in the Northern Cape of South Africa. Previous public sculptures include Vertical Aerial: JHB (Hollard, JHB); The World On Its Hind Legs, a collaboration with William Kentridge (Beverley Hills, LA); The Fire Walker, in collaboration with William Kentridge (Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Johannesburg); and Paper Pigeons, in collaboration with Maja Marx (Pigeon Square, Johannesburg).

Marx’s work has been shown at international art fairs (Art Basel, Frieze London, FIAC, Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Basel Miami). It is held in numerous public and private art collections, and was included on the South African pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale. Marx’s most recent solo exhibition, Spatial Imaginaries, Propositional Cartographies opened at the Goodman Gallery, London 2021. Recent performative work includes scenography and costumes for Lara Foot’s 2022 reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello for Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus.

Marx completed his undergraduate degree at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, and received his MFA (cum laude) from Wits School of Art, Johannesburg, where he was a full time member of staff between 2003 and 2007, lecturing in both the Fine Art and Dramatic Arts Departments. Marx is a fellow of the Eckhart Residency, the Sundance Film Institute, the Annenberg Fund and the Ampersand Foundation. He lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. Marx is represented by Everard Read Gallery.

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024

Thin Places, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2023

TerraTerraTerra, Solo Section, INVESTEC Cape Town Art Fair with Everard Read

2021   

Spatial Imaginaries, Propositional Cartographies, Goodman Gallery, London, UK

2020   

Near Distant, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Soundings and Fathoms, US Woordfees, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2019   

Ecstatic Archive, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017   

Transparent Territories, The Viewing Room, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2015   

A Geometry of Echoes, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2014   

The Garden at Night, NWU gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa

2013   

Lessons in Looking Down, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2011   

Cumulus, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

The Viewing Room, The Viewing Room, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2007   

photo-, Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

2005   

Gerhard Marx, Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

2003   

New Works, Outlet, Pretoria, South Africa

2000   

Drawing and Animation, Open Window Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

1999   

You are here, Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022   

Where do I begin, curated by Alexander Richards, Stevenson, Cape Town, South Africa

The Same Space Three Times, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Turbine Art Fair, with The Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2021   

Fathom, RHE water show, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2020   

Burning House, a selection of Antoine de Galbert collection, Muzeum Sztuki, Lodz, Poland

Witness: Afro Perspectives from the Jorge M Pérez Collection, curated by Tandazani Dhlakama, El Espacio 23, Miami, USA

Did you ever think there would come a time, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Frieze, with Goodman Gallery, New York, USA

Frieze, with Goodman Gallery, London, UK

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Goodman

Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2019   

Shutter Speed Reflection/Deflection, South African Indie Scenography, curated by Tamara Guhrs and Jenni-lee Crewe, Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, Czechia

My Hart is so Leeg Soos 'n Spieël (My Heart is a Void, the Void is a Mirror), curated by Gian Maria Tosatti, A4 Arts Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa

2019   

I’VE GROWN ROSES IN THIS GARDEN OF MINE, Goodman Gallery, London, UK

Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Miami, USA

Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Hong Kong

2018   

Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Miami, USA

2017   

Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Miami, USA

Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Basel, Switzerland

Art Basel, with Goodman Gallery, Hong Kong

2016   

7 Rewind Films, Williams College, Massachusetts, USA

2015   

Skelet, de armatuur van het lichaam in de hedendaagse beeldhoukunst, Museum Beelden aan Zee, The Hague, Netherlands

2014   

Between Subject and Object, Michaelis Galleries, Cape Town, South Africa

300 Years of Botanical Art, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Sitting to Selfie, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2013   

Imaginary Fact: South African Art and the Archive, South African Pavilion, 55th Venice Biennale, Italy          

My Joburg, Maison Rouge, Paris, France

The Beautyful Ones, Nolan Judin Gallery, Berlin, Germany

2011   

The Life of Bone, Origins Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

2010   

The Marks We Make, Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

The Land Revisited, Klein Karoo Arts Festival, Oudsthoorn, South Africa

2009   

Adding Subtractions, curated by Daniella Geo (Belgium), Bag Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa

Capital: How heads speak, curated by Fiona Rankin Smith, Wits University Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Sources: Contemporary sculpture in the landscape, Nirox Sculpture Garden, Johannesburg, South Africa

2006   

Figuring Faith, curated by Fiona Rankin Smith, Standard Bank Art Gallery, Johannesburg; National Arts Festival, Makhanda, South Africa

2004   

Ten Years of Democracy, Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudsthoorn, South Africa

 

PERFORMANCE AND THEATRE

2024

OTHELLO directed by Lara Foot Newton for Baxter Theatre (scenography and costumes), South Africa

2022   

OTHELLO directed by Lara Foot Newton for Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus (scenography and costumes), Germany

2020   

VEHICLE, with Shane Cooper, Kyle Shepherd and Toast Coetzer, US Woordfeees, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2019   

VEHICLE, with Shane Cooper and Diamanda La Berge Dramm, Frascati Theatre, Holland Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2018   

VEHICLE, with Shane Cooper, Kyle Shepherd and vocals by Toast Coetzer, Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019   

VEHICLE, conceived, created and directed by Gerhard Marx, with performances by musicians Shane Cooper and Diamanda La Berge Dramm, spoken word poetry written and performed by Toast Coetzer, performed at The Frascati Theatre, Holland Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2018   

VEHICLE, conceived, created and directed by Gerhard Marx, with performances by musicians Shane Cooper and Kyle Shepherd, spoken word poetry written and performed by Toast Coetzer, as part of the Season 4 programme, curated by Jane Taylor, Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, South Africa

2008   

REwind, a Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony, composed by Phillip Miller, directed by Gerhard Marx, with interactive film by Gerhard and Maja Marx, Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa

They Say, written, designed and directed by Gerhard Marx for Aardklop National Arts Festival (winner: Bravo Award - Most Memorable Moment, Aardklop 2008), Potchefstroom, South Africa        

2007   

REwind, a Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony, Celebrate Brooklyn NY and the 62’ Centre, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA

2006   

The Collision Project, directed by Gerhard Marx, composed by Clare Loveday, The Substation, Wits Theatre Complex, South Africa

Truth in Translation, directed by Michael Lessick (NY), set design by Gerhard Marx, tours internationally 2006-2008

2005   

Hear and Now, written by Lara Foot Newton, co-directed by Lara Foot Newton and Gerhard Marx, scenography by Gerhard Marx, tours internationally 2005-2006

2003   

Tshepang, written and directed by Lara Foot Newton, scenography by Gerhard Marx, tours internationally 2003-2019

 

PUBLIC ART          

2022  

Locus (Richmond), Richmond, Northern Cape, South Africa

2020   

The World on its Hind Legs, in collaboration with William Kentridge, Norval Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa

2019   

Vertical Aerial: Johannesburg, Hollard, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017   

The World on its Hind Legs, in collaboration with William Kentridge, Beverley Hills, Los Angeles, USA

2015   

Vertical Aerial: Johannesburg, Old Fort, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa

2013   

Vertical Aerial: Johannesburg, commissioned by Spier Architectural Arts for the Johannesburg Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa

90 Grayston, facade of 90 Grayston building, with GLH Architects, Sandton, South Africa

2010   

The World on its Hind Legs, in collaboration with artist William Kentridge, Nedbank Campus, Sandton, South Africa

2009   

The Fire Walker, in collaboration with William Kentridge, Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Johannesburg, South Africa

2009   

Paper Pigeon, in collaboration with Maja Marx, Pigeon Square, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa  

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2019   

Ecstatic Archive, with texts by Sean O’Toole, Edgar Pieterse and Alex Dodd (published by Goodman Gallery)

2015   

Depths in Feet, catalogue (co-published by the artist and Goodman Gallery)

2009   

‘A Matter of Life and Death: The Function of Dysfunction in the work of the Handspring Puppet Company’ in Taylor, J (ed) 2009, Handspring Puppet Company, Johannesburg, David Krut Publishing

2005   

Gerhard Marx, catalogue (published by Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary Art)

 

ART COLLECTIONS

Fondation Antoine de Galbert

South African Foundation for Contemporary Art

Renee and Robert Drake Art Collection

Wits Art Museum

Johannesburg Art Gallery

Absa Bank

SABC

Nedbank

Sasol Art Collection

The Perez Collection, Perez Art Museum, Miami

21 C collection, Kentucky

Spier Collection

 

ART AWARDS

2020    Festival Artist, Woordfees, Soundings and Fathoms, Stellenbosch

2014    Festival Artist, Aardklop Festival, The Garden at Night, NWU gallery, Potchefstroom

2012    Visual Artist Award, KYKNET, Aardklop Art Festival, Oudtshoorn

1998    Michaelis Award; Best Student, Michaelis School of Art, UCT

            Simon Gershwin Award; Most Promising Art Student 

1997    Michaelis Award; Best Student, Michaelis School of Art, UCT

 

SELECTED FILM AWARDS

2007    And There in The Dust, with Lara Foot Newton: Best Animated Film, and Best International Short Film at the Bird’s Eye Festival in London

2006    And There in The Dust, with Lara Foot Newton: Best Short Film at the Latin, African and Asian Film Festival, Milan; 3 Golden Horn awards at the South African Film Awards (Best Animation, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, short film)

 

THEATRE AWARDS

2009    Naledi Award, Best Set Design (REwind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony)

2008    Bravo Award; Most Memorable Moment, Aardklop National Arts Festival (They Say)

2005    Naledi Award, Best Set Design (The Tempest)

2004    Naledi Award, Best Set Design (Tshepang)

 

FELLOWSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

2009    Cinema du Monde Pavillion fellow, Cannes Film Festival, by invitation of the French Institute, France

2008    Sundance Institute Fellowship: Sundance Film Directors’ Laboratory, Utah, USA

            Annenberg Film Fellowship, University of Southern California, USA

2007    Sundance Institute Fellowship, Sundance Screen Writers’ Laboratory, Utah, USA

2004    Ampersand Fellowship, New York, USA

 

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2004–07  Lecturer, Wits School of Art, University of the Witwatersrand

2001–03  Lecturer, School of Art, Pretoria Technikon (currently known as Tshwane University of Technology)