Winner of the Baloise Art Prize 2012.

Karsten Födinger takes resilient materials and static structures and tests them in constructions designed to demonstrate the passage of time and the intensity of various forces. His sculptures counter the precariousness of different forms of equilibrium—be it in built constructions or human relationships.

Gravity is the indivisible force that can cause the materials selected by the artist to crash to the ground, determining their final form. It impacts on plinths, pillars, and wedges made from reinforced concrete, steel, or wood. To give them a chance of withstanding gravity, Födinger combines them as figures with self-reinforcing structures and—by the very nature of their montage—underlines the urgency of reacting to imminent catastrophe. He always derives the specific characteristics of his sculptures from the nature of the place for which they are made.

In 2009, in his native city of Mönchengladbach, Födinger was struck by the sight of three supporting struts between two buildings, which illustrated the hidden, internal forces that are at play in constructions, in spaces, in architecture, and in the very society that has brought forth these edifices.

From that moment onward the camera became a crucial tool for Födinger as a means to record different ways of reinforcing and supporting buildings in danger of collapse. This has left its mark on his artistic work as a series of prints, which can even be read as an autobiographical description of existence in time. For long exposures Födinger generally places the camera on a tripod, so that no moving figures appear in the photograph. Sometimes he returns time and again to the same place in order to capture a photograph in particular conditions, for instance to avoid vegetation or other features (depending on the time of year) that would detract from the sculptural qualities of the target object. The struts and braces photographed in Mönchengladbach for this series—all selected by Födinger for their geometric forms and emotional overtones—highlight the fragility that is hidden by the seeming strength of the walls in question.

In the same way that the wood used as molds for Födinger’s sculptures reacts to the pressure of moist cement as it dries, the structures he photographs demonstrate the forces that affect walls and supports. They may even look like beings in heroic attitudes. In some ways they seem like the mighty arms of a modern Laocoon, fighting an invisible, destructive force. Their presence and tensions invigorate their locations as they raise questions concerning the very ephemeral nature of human existence.

Roberto Gargiani and Anna Rosellini

Further works by Karsten Födinger in the Baloise art collection:

Inv. no. 1251, Untitled, 2009, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 12.4 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1252, Untitled, 2009, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 19.4 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1253, Untitled, 2010, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.2 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1254, Untitled, 2009, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.6 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1255, Untitled, 2009, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 20.6 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1256, Untitled, 2011, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18 x 12 cm

Inv. no. 1257, Untitled, 2012, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 20.6 x 13.9 cm

Inv. no. 1262, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 14.7 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1263, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 14 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1264, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.1 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1265, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 19 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1266, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 14.6 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1267, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.5 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1268, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1269, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 13.5 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1270, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.2 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1271, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 20.5 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1272, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 21.5 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1273, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1274, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 20.1 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1275, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 20.5 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1276, Untitled, 2013, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 14.9 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1475, Untitled, 2015, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 19 x 19 cm

Inv. no. 1477, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.8 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1478, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.7 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1479, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.8 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1480, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 12.7 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1481, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.5 x 14.2 cm

Inv. no. 1482, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 12.8 x 16.7 cm

Inv. no. 1483, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 12.8 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1484, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 13.7 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1485, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 19.2 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1486, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.7 x 13.5 cm

Inv. no. 1487, Untitled, 2016, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 15.8 x 13.5 cm

Inv. no. 1519, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.3 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1520, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.6 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1521, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.6 x 12.6 cm

Inv. no. 1522, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 12.7 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1523, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.8 x 12.9 cm

Inv. no. 1524, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.7 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1525, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 12.8 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1526, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 14.5 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1527, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.3 x 12.7 cm

Inv. no. 1528, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper,16.2 x 12.2 cm

Inv. no. 1529, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.5 x 12.8 cm

Inv. no. 1530, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17 x 13 cm

Inv. no. 1531, Untitled, 2017, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.7 x 12.6 cm

Inv. no. 1549, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 14.8 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1550, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 13.5 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1551, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 15.8 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1552, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1553, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 15.8 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1554, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 13.3 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1555, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1556, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.8 x 11.8 cm

Inv. no. 1557, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.3 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1558, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.9 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1559, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1560, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.5 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1561, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 15.5 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1562, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 15.8 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1563, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.8 x 15.5 cm

Inv. no. 1564, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1565, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1566, Untitled, 2018, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1567, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1568, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 16.1 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1569, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1570, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 15 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1571, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 11.7 x 11.7

Inv. no. 1572, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.1 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1573, Untitled, 2019, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 17.5 x 11.7 cm

Inv. no. 1574, Untitled, 2014, Fine art print on Baryta Paper, 18.2 x 12.3 cm