2018

Adrian Piper

Adrian Piper: Self-Portrait in the Manner of Käthe Kollwitz, 1966, Carbon drawing on newsprint, cut out 8.75" x 6.25". Photo: Timo Ohler. Collection Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation Berlin © APRA Foundation Berlin.

The American artist and analytical philosopher Adrian Piper continues to have a significant influence on conceptual art in the USA to this day, through her works on paper, her videos, multimedia installations, paintings, sound works, and her graphics based on text and photography. With themes that include gender and race, Piper expands the spectrum of first-generation concept art and minimalism. Since the late 1960s, she has consistently scrutinised the political conditions of art's production processes as well as its reception and meaning. Piper finds a minimalist and at the same time poetic formal language in her artistic approach that appeals to a broad public.

Impressions of the award ceremony

Adrian Piper, Mauer, 2010. Video installation: television monitors, videos with randomly programmed images, fresh roses. Dimensions variable. Installation view: Käthe-Kollwitz-Preis 2018. Adrian Piper. Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Sep-Oct 2018. Photo credit: Andreas FranzXaver Süß. Collection Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation Berlin. © APRA Foundation Berlin.

Mauer (2010), installation view: Käthe Kollwitz Prize 2018

Adrian Piper, Das Ding-an-sich bin ich, 2018. Eight mirrored Plexiglas cubes, each 180 cm high x 60 wide cm x 60 cm deep (70.86” x 23.62” x 23.62”), each housing concealed sound system; eight 8-minute audio files; floor-wide grid of minimum 60 cells each 60 cm x 60 cm (23.62” x 23.62”), room dimensions variable. Installation view: Käthe-Kollwitz-Preis 2018. Adrian Piper. Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Sep-Oct 2018. Photo credit: Andreas FranzXaver Süß. Collection Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation Berlin. © APRA Foundation Berlin.

Das Ding-an-sich bin ich (2018), installation view: Käthe Kollwitz Prize 2018

Adrian Piper, Hier, 2018. Site-specific installation comprising three engraved wall texts (in Hebrew, German, and Arabic) on adjacent walls. Dimensions variable. Installation view: Käthe-Kollwitz-Preis 2018. Adrian Piper. Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Sep-Oct 2018. Photo credit: Andreas FranzXaver Süß. Collection Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation Berlin. © APRA Foundation Berlin.

Hier (2018), installation view: Käthe Kollwitz Prize 2018