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6d ago

Günther Uecker, Postwar Avant-Garde Nail Artist, Dies at 95

His pioneering nail reliefs merged postwar abstraction with political commentary in exhibitions spanning over 60 countries.

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 9, 2005 file picture German artist Guenther Uecker, one of the country's most important post-war artists who was famous for his large-format nail reliefs, stands in front of his artwork 'Feld' (field) in Berlin, Berlin. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck, File)
An employee poses with an artwork by German sculptor Gunther Uecker entitled 'Doppelspirale' ahead of an art sale at Christie's in London on March 3, 2017
Uecker's abstract works saw him hammer nails into furniture, TV sets, canvases and a tree trunk, creating undulating patterns, the illusion of movement and intricate shadow plays
German artist Guenther Uecker during an exhibition in Duesseldorf on February 5, 2015

Overview

  • He died on June 10 in a Düsseldorf hospital, with his New York gallery Lévy Gorvy Dayan confirming the announcement.
  • Uecker joined the German avant-garde ZERO group in 1961 after its 1957 founding by Otto Piene and Heinz Mack, and the collective formally dissolved in 1966.
  • He pioneered nail reliefs by hammering thousands of nails into canvases, lightboxes and TV sets to create dynamic, kinetic abstractions.
  • Many of his works addressed human rights and political issues, notably the censored ‘Letter to Beijing’ and the ‘Verletzungsworte’ series on abuse.
  • Over six decades, his art appeared in more than 60 countries, commanded million-dollar prices and was produced from his long-standing Düsseldorf studio.