photo: Kai Schürholz
Detlef Günther is a trans-media artist and a researcher, one might add, because his artistic horizon is significantly influenced by the fields of history, anthropology and philosophy as well as Western and Eastern religion. His current topics, which deal with the theses and current effects of humanism and transhumanism, among other things, are presented by him in a multi-perspective manner through various media. In other words: Günther is less concerned with mere diversity; rather, his work presents the one in the many. Günther’s ability to hold this diversity in a space and frame of reference, to bring different perspectives, thought or value systems into an overall context, is striking. Since the early 1990s, Günther has been creating paintings, drawings, photographs, video works and installations, which he often combines in groups and cycles. He is always interested in exploring the possibilities of perception, the ambiguity of reality and the contextual nature of meaning. (Angelika Sommer)
… Günther’s works are about balancing two kinds of boundaries: the boundary between the analog and the digital on the one hand, and between the visible and the invisible on the other. (Christian Kupke)
Detlef Günther – Shortbio
After studying humanities and communication sciences at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich and the Free University of Berlin (Master’s Degree: M. A.) Detlef Günther studied free art at the UdK from 1984 to 1990 (Master’s Degree). At the same time he founded the group BOR with the artists Martin Assig, Klaus Hoefs, Oliver Öfelein and Jochen Stenschke. As a freelance artist, Günther worked in the 1990s on the research project “Technical Vision” at the Medieninstitut Berlin (headed by Prof. Dr. Arthur Engelbert). In 1997, he founded “Twosuns Media Development GmbH” and developed the interactive environment system “Enclued” in connection with a new type of camera procedure that records people’s movements in space in three dimensions. Both innovations have been patented by the German and European Patent Office.
Detlef Günther has appeared with about 50 solo and group exhibitions in Germany and abroad, e. g. at the Haus der Kunst München, Gemeente Museum Helmond (NL), Galerie Kremer-Tengelmann (Cologne/Gelsenkirchen), NGBK Berlin. On behalf of companies and institutions such as Sony Deutschland, Festspielhaus Hellerau, Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), Canon ArtLab in Tokio and the artsist Carsten Nicolai (project: Polar, Goldene Nica 2001), he has also realized various media projects and installations.
Detlef Günther’s works are represented in the Kunstmuseum Gelsenkirchen, Deutsche Bank Art Collection (Frankfurt), EON Art Collection, Museo degli Angeli (Brolo/sicily) and the Ruth and Karl Kremer Collection (NW). He lives and works in Berlin.
Links: Detlef Günther (Home)