In his work, Nic Hess interweaves motifs derived from the dismantling of materials of various origins into new pictorial units in a manner that is both precise in terms of craftsmanship and intellectually sharp-sensed.
An elaborate process of disassembly releases (brand) symbols, logos and pictograms of a universal consumer culture, but also icons from politics and cultural history from their original contexts. Hess continuously draws from this comprehensive pool of images to generate new contexts of meaning and pointed pictorial statements, which sometimes extend object-like into three-dimensionality and relate directly to the immediate spatial conditions in clearly balanced installations.
Nic Hess’s undogmatic combinatorics, a refined combination of elements from contrary reference systems. A a wall covered with intricate curves made of tape stands a pedestal with a lying chicken hatching an egg. This obvious incongruity, reminiscent of the figure of a changeling, has an ominous, or at least unsettling, sense of an order out of joint: both as a laconic commentary on social issues of diversity, distinction, and discrimination, and as an allusion to current conflict situations in world politics, in which the boundaries between one’s own and the other are drawn sharply and even by warlike means.
On the one hand, they are disposable goods from China that are disposed of after a single use. On the other hand, Hess uses or recycles exactly the surgical utensils that the doctor used during an operation on himself and then gave to him. Arranged in a star shape, the different sizes and degrees of opening of the scissors result in a superordinate ornamental cross shape that emerges as a macabre self-portrait.
Selected Artworks
All Inclusive 2021 Installationshots (1-6) Sportscenter Kerenzerberg, Switzerland Paint, Tapes and other adhesivs at Wall
All Inclusive 2021 Installationshots (1-6) Sportscenter Kerenzerberg, Switzerland Paint, Tapes and other adhesivs at Wall
All inclusive
2021
(placeholder)
2021
Icons will survive
2007
Margret
2023
Biography
Born Switzerland, 1968
Education 1992 – 1996 Gerrit Rieveld Academie, Amsterdam and Hdk Berlin
Resides Lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Alles. Einmal. Grieder Contemporary, Zürich
2022 FERDINAND, PhilippvonRosen Galerie, Cologne
2019 Neue Arbeiten, Ziegler Galerie Zürich
2018 Mit und ohne Bart Philipp von Rosen Galerie, Köln
2016 Zulieferer unter Druck Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg
2015 Der Stoff aus dem die Träume waren Kunsthalle Münster
Grosser Fahrplan für eine kleine Stadt Grieder Contemporary, Zürich
2014 Archivo teatralico, Galerie Figge von Rosen, Berlin
2013 ein Titel muss her, Kunststation, städtische Galerie Wolfsburg
Highways and byways. together again. Damiler Contemporary, Berlin
2012 Grieder Contemporary, Zurich
2011 Figge von Rosen Galerie, Berlin
2009 Automatic Crash Response, Armand Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Dont Sorry, Figge von Rosen Galerie, Koeln
2008 Sculpures, The Project, New York
2007 Trader Joe and Alberts’ son, Galerie Figgevonrosen, Köln
Food4Less, Museo de Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico
I would eat them anywhere, Arndt & Partner, Zürich
Positions, ART Basel/Miami, Galerie Figgevonrosen, Köln
2006 Early Bird, Galerie Jesco von Puttkamer, Berlin
Walls/Muri mit Frederico Herrero, Fondazione Bevilacqua, Venedig
Rice-Fields and Bushes, Casa del lago, Mexico City
2005 Dreaming of el A, The Project, Los Angeles
Pic Nic Hess, Projectile Gallery, New York
Proxima estacion, ADN Galeria, Barcelona (Fokus Switzerland)
2004 Guten Morgen Deutschland, Haus der Kunst, München
Triple Treat, The Project, Los Angeles
2003 Who Bites First? Viafarini, Milano
Modern Art Inc., London
Logo, Swiss Institute, New York
Berlin-New York (with Emmanuelle Antille) Kunsthaus Baselland, Muttenz,
2002 NYCS, Galerie griedervonputtkamer, Berlin
To the MANOR born, Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Winterthur
greyhounds, OPA (Officina de Proyectos de Arte) Guadalajara, Mexico
2001 Well Done, The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
ART BASEL 32, Basel, Art Statements, Serge Ziegler Galerie
2000 Dolly II, Kunstwerke, Berlin
it’s a men’s world , Serge Ziegler Galerie, Zürich
Swinging Swindle, Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY
Stadionneubau, Galerie griedervonputtkamer, Berlin
Together now, The Drawing Center, New York
Quiero Casarme, The Project, New York
1999 Transit 21, Kunsthalle St. Gallen, (mit Kerim Seiler)
1998 ohne Tiere, Galerie Walcheturm, Zürich
mit Tiere, Galerie Serge Ziegler, Zürich
1997 Mosaik des Fernfahrers, ’Space’ Ankerstrasse, Zürich
1996 Race dogs just starting, Arena Amsterdam
​
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Last words from the Periphery, Werkerei Schwamendingen,
(Curated by Rocco de Filippo)
2020 Sommer des Zögerns/Summer of Suspense, Kunsthalle Zürich
(Curated by Mattew Hanson and Daniel Baumann)
Made in Zurich Grieder Contemporary, Küsnacht
2019 Make Zurich small again KUPPER MODERN (Curated by Alain Kupper)
2018 Neuer Norden Zürich (curated bei Christoph Doswald)
Trains & Boats & Planes Galerie MAISTERRVALBUENA, Lisboa
2015 ARTER foundation, Istanbul
2013 BUNT! Gluri Suter Huus, Wettingen
2012 Football, Museo de arte Contemporano MARCO, Monterrey, Mexico
(curated by Patrick Charpenel)
2011 Art Stars and cars, Mercedes Benz Museum, Stuttgart (curated by Renate Wiehager)
Fuerzas Basicas, Museo de la Ciudad, Guadalajara (curated by Lorena Pena Brito)
2010 Pictures about Pictures, MUMOK (Museum Moderner Kunst in Vienna)
Curated by Dr. Renate Wiehager
2009 Schloss Ringenberg
2008 Flow, Centro Cultural Andratx, Majorca (curated by Pau wealder)
Balls and Brains, Helmhaus Zurich (curated by Simon Maurer)
2007 Minimalism and applied, DaimlerChrysler-Collection, Berlin
2006 Zeichen der Bewegung, Seedamm Kulturzentrum, Pfäffikon
Branding, Centre Pasquart, Biel
Visioni del Paradiso, Instituto Svizzero, Roma
Untitled, Grieder Contemporary, Zürich
All the Best- the Deutsche Bank Collection, Singapore Art Museum
Piktogramme- Die Einsamkeit der Zeichen, Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Experiments in Pop, Paul Klee Center, Bern
2005 Lichtkunst aus Kunstlicht, ZKM Karlsruhe
Grafische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Helmhaus Zürich
2004 Gegen den Strich, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, in Zusammenarbeit
mit dem SIEMENS ARTS PROGRAM
2003 Buenos Dias Buenos Aires, Museo de Arte Moderno, Buenos Aires
The Squared Circle, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Urban Diaries: Young Swiss Art, Alcalá 31, Contemporary Art Center, Madrid
2002 Im Zeichen der Bewegung, Kunstmuseum, Bern
Ikonen. Kunst und Kult, Coninx Museum, Zürich
Baltic Biennial, Vilnius, Latvia
Culture meets Culture, Busan Biennal, Busan, South-Korea
JUMEX-Collection, Mexico City, Mexico
Wallow, (with Julie Mehretu), The Project, New York
Listening to New Voices, PS.1 Contemporary Art Center, New York
2001 Casino 2001, 1st Quadrennial of Contemporary Art, S.M.A.K.,
Stedelijk Museum voor actuele Kunst, Gent
Public Collections
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zürich
Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Switzerland
Kunsthaus Zürich
Kantonalbank Zürich
Sammlung Bank Cantrade, Zürich
Dow Chemical, Zürich
JUMEX Collection, Mexico City, Mexico
Sammlung MANOR, Switzerland
Amt für Arbeit und Wirtschaft des Kantons Zürich
Kanton Zürich
Universität Zürich
Sammlung DaimlerChrysler, Switzerland/Deutschland
Collection OMNILIFE S.A., Guadalajara, Mexico
Museo de Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexiko
Sammlung der Nationalbank Zürich
The British Land Company
Collection Deutsche Bank
Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Bundesmedienhaus, Bern
Swiss Re, Zuerich
Schweizerische Nationalbank
Ernst & Young, Zürich
Montblanc Kulturstiftung, Hamburg
Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg
Museum für Kommunikation, Bern
Sammlung Andra Lauffs-Wegner
Bibliography
2013 Novecento mai visto – Highlights from the Daimler Art Collection. Exh. cat.
Daimler Art Collection. Text by Renate Wiehager and Christian
Ganzenberg. Brescia 2013.
highways and byways. together again. Artist booklet on the occasion
of the same-named exhibition. Text by Christian Ganzenberg,
Daimler Contemporary. Berlin
highways and byways. together again. Exh. brochure on the occasion of
the same-named exhibition. Text by Renate Wiehager, Daimler
Contemporary. Berlin 2013.
2012 Neon parallax Genève (2006–2012): un projet des Fonds d’art
contemporain de la ville et du canton de Genève. Text by Renaud
Proch. Gollion 2012.
2011 Art & Stars & Cars. Exh. cat. Daimler Art Collection at Mercedes-Benz
Museum, Stuttgart. Text by Renate Wiehager. Stuttgart 2011.
2010 Voici un dessin suisse – Schweizer Zeichnung: 1990–2010.
Exh. cat. Musée Rath, Geneva. Zurich 2010.
2009 Nic Hess. Automatic Crash Response – Hammer Projects.
Exh. cat. Armand Hammer Museum. Los Angeles 2009.*
Julius Baer Art Collection. Exhibitions featuring works from the
Julius Baer Art Collection. St. Moritz Art Masters. St. Moritz 2009.
Blitzen Benz BANG – Daimler Art Collection: Mixed Media,
Sculptures, Commissioned Works. Text by Renate Wiehager.
Ostfildern-Ruit 2009.
2008 Nic Hess – Don’t sorry. Exh. brochure on the occasion of the
same-named exhibition at Figge von Rosen Galerie. Cologne 2008.*
2007 Nic Hess –Trader Joe and Albert’s son. Exh. brochure on the
occasion of the same-named exhibition at Figge von Rosen
Galerie. Cologne 2007.*
Minimal and Applied. Objects for imaginative and real use. Exh.
cat. Daimler Contemporary. Berlin 2007.
2006 Walls/Muri. Exh. cat. Galleria Bevilaqua La Masa, Fondazione
Bevilaqua. Texts by Angela Vettese, Marinella Venanzi, Carmen Juìa,
and Stephanie Rosenthal. Venice 2006.*
Branding: das Kunstwerk zwischen Authentizität und Aura, Kritik und
Kalkül. Exh. cat. Centre PasquArt Biel, Nuremberg 2006.
2003–2005 Centre Culturel Suisse. Centre Culturel Suisse Paris.
Zurich 2006.
Piktogramme – Die Einsamkeit der Zeichen. Exh. cat.
Kunstmuseum Stuttgart. Texts by Marion Ackermann and
Cara Schweitzer. Munich/Berlin 2006.
Lichtkunst aus Kunstlicht: Licht als Medium der Kunst im 20.
und 21. Jahrhundert. Exh. cat. ZKM Karlsruhe. Ostfildern-Ruit 2006.
Vom Schweifen der Linien: zeitgenössische Zeichnungspositionen.
Exh. cat. Seedamm-Kulturzentrum, Bulletin 75. Pfäffikon 2006.
2005 Schweizer Druckgraphik des 20. Jahrhunderts – Graphische
Sammlung der ETH Zürich. Text by Bernadette Walter. Basel 2005.
2004 Guten Morgen Deutschland!. Audio-CD with fold-out poster
on the occasion of the exhibition at Haus der Kunst, Munich 2004.*
INSERT. Easter Sports Syndrom by Nic Hess, in: Parkett, no. 70, 2004. *
Gegen den Strich – neue Formen der Zeichnung. Exh. cat.
Kunsthalle Baden-Baden. Nuremberg 2004.
Buenos dias Buenos Aires – Arte contemporáneo suizo.
Exh. cat. Museo Arte Moderno Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires 2004.
2003 My life with Frankie & Tony, in: NB – New York/Berlin, Nic Hess
und Emmanuelle Antille. Exh. cat. Kunsthaus Baselland. Muttenz 2003. *
Urban diaries: young Swiss art. Exh. cat. Alcalá 31,
Consejería de las Artes. Madrid 2003.
2002 51 views from Mount Matterhorn. Ed. by Christoph Doswald.
Texts by Christoph Doswald, Wimm Jetten and Beat Santschi.
Ostfildern-Ruit 2002.*
Im Zeichen der Bewegung: Schweizer Zeichnungen der Gegenwart
aus der graphischen Sammlung Kunstmuseum Bern.
Exh. cat. Kunstmuseum Bern. Text by Nicole Schweizer. Bern 2002
2001 Milano Europa 2000. Fine secolo; i semi del futuro. Exh. cat.
Triennale di Milano. Milan 2001.
Casino 2001. 1st Quadrennial for Contemporary Art. Exh. cat.
S.M.A.K. Gent. Ghent 2001.
2000 Nic Hess. Together Now. Exh. cat. The Drawing Center, Drawing
Papers no. 5. Text by Elizabeth Finch. New York 2000.*
Out of Space. Exh. cat. Kunstmuseum Thun. Text by
Madeleine Schuppli. Thun 2000.
Franz Gratwohl – Nic Hess – Daniel Lorenzi – Zilla Leutenegger –
Hannes Rickli – Karoline Schreiber – Pascale Wiedemann.
Foundation Binz 39, documentation 1998–1999. Zurich 2000.
1999 Nic Hess. Cahier d’artistes. Pro Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland.
Texts by Dorothea Strauss and Rein Wolfs. Baden 1999.*
Peace. Exh. cat. Migros Museum fur Gegenwartskunst. Zurich 1999.
Nic Hess & Kerim Seiler: Vernissage, Exh. cat. Verein Kunsthalle
St. Gallen, Sankt Gallen 1999.
Prizes and Grants
2010 Studiogrant Landis & Gyr, London
2009 NEON, Place de Planpalais, Geneva
2002 Manor Grant of Zurich City, Zurich
2001 P.S.1 International Studio Program, New York
Grant of Zurich City, Zurich
Cantrade Art Prize,Cultural Foundation, Zurich
2000 Grant of Zurich City, Zurich
Swiss Art Award
1999 Swiss Art Award
1998 Studio grant Foundation BINZ 39, Zurich