Norbert Kricke
Encyclopedia
Norbert Kricke was a German sculptor.
Born in Düsseldorf
, Kricke was a student of Richard Scheibe and Hans Uhlmann at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Berlin
. He started creating abstract sculptures from 1947, using wires and other materials associated with industry, such as steel, glass and concrete. He was one of the most important artists in the group known as L'Art Informel, and had close links with ZERO and Nouveau Réalisme. From 1959 he worked with Yves Klein
and Werner Ruhnau, and after 1972 he taught at the Art Academy of Düsseldorf
, where he died.
One of his more famous works is the Water Forest (1957) outside the Gelsenkirchen
Opera House (Musiktheater im Revier
). He also created wire sculptures for Münster
Theatre (1955/566) and fountains for the University of Baghdad
. He is generally known for his theories on the use of flowing water in art, shared with the critic John Anthony Thwaites
(1909–1981).
Born in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Kricke was a student of Richard Scheibe and Hans Uhlmann at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He started creating abstract sculptures from 1947, using wires and other materials associated with industry, such as steel, glass and concrete. He was one of the most important artists in the group known as L'Art Informel, and had close links with ZERO and Nouveau Réalisme. From 1959 he worked with Yves Klein
Yves Klein
Yves Klein was a French artist considered an important figure in post-war European art. He is the leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau réalisme founded in 1960 by the art critic Pierre Restany...
and Werner Ruhnau, and after 1972 he taught at the Art Academy of Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, where he died.
One of his more famous works is the Water Forest (1957) outside the Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
Opera House (Musiktheater im Revier
Musiktheater im Revier
Musiktheater im Revier is the venue for performing opera, operetta, musical theatre and ballet in Gelsenkirchen, Germany...
). He also created wire sculptures for Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
Theatre (1955/566) and fountains for the University of Baghdad
University of Baghdad
The University of Baghdad is the largest university in Iraq and the second largest Arab university following the University of Cairo.- Nomenclature :Both University of Baghdad and Baghdad University are used interchangeably....
. He is generally known for his theories on the use of flowing water in art, shared with the critic John Anthony Thwaites
John Anthony Thwaites
John Anthony Thwaites was a British art critic and author, who lived and worked in West Germany from 1946.- Biography :Thwaites studied history at the universities of Lausanne and Cambridge. From 1931 he was a member of the British Foreign Service, and worked until 1943 as a British vice-consul in...
(1909–1981).
Selected exhibitions
- 1959 documenta 2 documenta, Kassel
- 1964 32. Biennale Venedig, 1964 Biennale Venedig
- 1964 documenta 3, documentaDocumentadocumenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
, Kassel - 1975 Norbert Kricke, Kunsthalle DüsseldorfKunsthalle Düsseldorf-Building:The present art centre was built in 1967 in Brutalist architecture by the architects Konrad Beckmann and Brockes. They used commercially available precast concrete for the construction work.-History:...
- 1980 Norbert Kricke, Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop
- 1997 Deutschlandbilder, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin
- 1998 Norbert Kricke, Studio A. Otterndorf
- 1999 Das Deutsche Informel, Galerie Rothe, Frankfurt
- 1999 Norbert Kricke, Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje
- 2000 40 Jahre Orangerie-Reinz, Galerie Orangerie-Reinz, Köln
- 2001 Outside the network?, Edith Wahlandt Galerie, Stuttgart
- 2003 Gruppe 53, Museum der Stadt Ratingen
- 2003 The Spirit of White, Galerie Beyeler, Basel
- 2004 Auf Papier, Galerie Neher, Essen
- 2005 MULTIPLE RÄUME (2): PARK, Kunsthalle Baden-Baden
- 2006 CLASSICAL : MODERN, Daimler Chrysler Contemporary, Berlin
- 2006 Full House, Kunsthalle Mannheim
- 2006 Rupprecht Geiger / Norbert Kricke, Neues Museum Weimar
- 2006 VIP III. Arena der Abstraktion, Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen
- 2006 Was ist Plastik? 100 Jahre – 100 Köpfe, Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg
- 2006–2007 Norbert Kricke Museum, Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf
Works in collections
- Daimler Chrysler Contemporary, Berlin
- Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum, Hagen
- Kunst aus NRW, Aachen-Kornelimünster
- Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach
- Saarland Museum, Saarbrücken
- SITUATION KUNST Bochum
- Studio A Otterndorf