Marc Brandenburg is Goethe-Institut Artist in Residence

Marc Brandenburg is the 2016 Goethe-Institut Artist in Residence

Wellington, New Zealand, 3 February 2016: Internationally-recognised German artist to spend three months in New Zealand

Marc Brandenburg, an important figure in contemporary German art, has been announced as the Goethe-Institut’s latest artist in residence in Wellington.

In co-operation with Wellington City Council, the Goethe-Institut offers a three-month scholarship to artists from Germany to come to live in New Zealand. Brandenburg will be the third artist to take up the residency.

Born in Berlin in 1965, Brandenburg grew up in Texas and Germany. His highly condensed pencil and graphic works draw on themes such as Berlin’s post-punk and rave scene, racism, violence and identity, and have been featured in many international exhibitions.

Goethe-Institut Director Bettina Senff says the cultural centre decided this year to give the scholarship to one of the exhibitors in Linie Line Linea. Brandenburg will be one of 20 German artists featured in the exhibition of contemporary drawing, which will be held at Wellington’s Adam Art Gallery from February 26 to April 24 as part of the New Zealand Festival.

“We chose Marc because we liked his references to urban landscapes. His work focuses on details and has a strong sense of atmosphere,” says Bettina Senff.

Brandenburg will take up his residency from mid February to the end of April. He will live in Wellington City Council’s historic Sexton’s Cottage in Bolton Street Memorial Park, a reminder of the capital’s colonial past in one of the busiest parts of the city.

Built in 1857 as a home for the caretaker of the cemetery’s Anglican section, the cottage is one of Wellington’s earliest surviving houses. It has been registered as a Category 1 historic place by Heritage New Zealand and is considered of special significance because of its aesthetic, architectural, historical and social value.

Brandenburg will appear in "International Connections: Artist-in-Residence Forum at Wellington City Gallery on 14 April, 5:30pm, and there may also be other opportunities for members of the public to meet him during his stay.

He is keen to integrate into the local art community during his time in Wellington. The Goethe-Institut welcomes invitations for Brandenburg to arts events.

The Goethe-Institut also hopes to be able to introduce Brandenburg to New Zealand tattoo artists, as some of his work has involved producing motifs for temporary tattoos.

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