John M Armleder is regarded as one of the most important representatives of intermediate contemporary art and has caused a sensation as an action and concept artist as well as with his geometric abstractions, installations and objets trouvés. He was born in Geneva in 1948. In 1969 he founded the artist group and later gallery "Ecart", which organized publications, exhibitions and actions until its dissolution in 1983.
In 1977 John Armleder also constituted the "Leathern Wing Scribble Press" and participated in the founding of the Milanese artists' cooperative "Laboratorio". In his early work Armleder was close to the Fluxus movement and also dealt with Mail Art. Later he became a pioneer of Neo Geo and created reduced paintings, often based on Constructivism, on a variety of media. He also created various graphics, objects, installations, environments, and objects trouvés.
Many of John M. Armleder's works are characterized by a targeted negation of individual handwriting. John M. Armleder, who has held professorships at the Braunschweiger Hochschule für Bildende Künste and the Ecole Cantonale d'Art de Lausanne since 1994, lives and works in his native city of Geneva.
BORN
1948
Geneva, Switzerland.
Lives and works in Geneva, Switzerland and New York, NY, USA.
1966 - 1967
Studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Geneva, Switzerland.
1969
Foundation of the Groupe ECART with Patrick Lucchini and Claude Rychner, Geneva, Switzerland.
1973 - 1983
Foundation of the gallery ECART, Geneva, ECART Editions & Publications, Geneva, Switzerland.
1992 - 2000
Member of the Swiss Federal Comission for the Fine-Arts, Bern, Switzerland.
1994 - present
Professor at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany and at the Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
PERFORMANCES
2011
Ecart, „Chronolgie en cinq yours“, Forde, Geneva, Switzerland.
2007
“About Nothing: As usual“, John M Armleder & Christian Marclay, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
“Event and Exhibit (1967-2007)“, Mamco, Geneva, Switzerland.
2006
“Mostly Silent Music“, Cabinet des Estampes, Geneva, Switzerland.
2004
“About Nothing, Live!“, Kunsthalle, Zurich, Switzerland.
2002
“Gasthoff“ (mit Klasse Armleder), Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Bremen, Germany.*
1999
Kunsthalle Bern, Berne, Switzerland.
CONFERENCES
2007
Tate Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
South London Gallery, London, UK.
2006
Sculpture Center, New York, NY, USA.
2005
Kunstmuseum, Basel, Switzerland.
2003
“The Swiss Art Scene Today“, ARCO, Madrid, Spain.
“Far for Peace, Fondtazione Ratti“, MAXXI, Rome, Italy.
“L’art sans les artistes“, Entretiens sur l’art, Espace Paul Ricard, Paris, France.
“Tabou I – Dieter Roth, dernier provocateur des Modernes“, Centre Dürenmatt, Biel, Switzerland.
“Minimalism and After“, DaimlerChrysler Contemporary, Berlin, Germany.
“Art and Architecture in Discussion“, Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland.*
“Sammlung DaimlerChrysler“, zkm, Karlsruhe, Germany.
2002
“Zukunftsvisionen“, Schweizerisches Institut für Kunstwissenschaft, Zurich, Switzerland.
“Kunst nach Kunst“, Neues Museum am Weserberg, Bremen, Germany.
“Kunst auas der Schweiz...“, Pro Helvetia, Kunsthaus, Zurich, Switzerland.
Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France,
2001
Künstlergespräch, Kunsttraum, Innsbruck, Austria.
“Welcome Party“, Gallery 360°, Tokyo, Japan.
L’artiste et son Musée“, Les Revues Parlées, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France.
1999
“RE“ NEW ART Workshop 2“, Casino Luxembourg.
Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand.
“big talk“, (loop I), art exchange, Berlin, Germany.
AS CURATOR/CO-CURATOR in 2003-2013
„All of the Above“, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France.
“Yellow Pages“, Turm Galerie 333, Helmstedt, Germany; Mamco, Geneva, Switzerland.
“Never Mind Your Step + Yellow Pages + 20“, Palazzo Liestal, Switzerland.*
“None of the Above“ Swiss Center New York, NY, USA (2004).*
“Lovely Shanghai Music, kunstverein Hannover, Germany; Zendai Museum, Shanghai, China.*
“At the Home in the Universe“, Mongin Gallery, Seoul, South Korea.*
“Introvert, Extrovert, Makes no Difference“, Galerie Catherine Issert, Saint Paul de Vence, France.
„Ecal, a Success Story“, ELAC, Renens/Lausanne, Switzerland.
SELECTED GRANTS & AWARDS
2011 Prix Meret Oppenheim
2007 Prix de la Leenaards, Lausanne
1995 Prix de la Ville de Genève
1979 Eidgenössisches Kunststipendium
1978 Eidgenössisches Kunststipendium
1977 Eidgenössisches Kunststipendium
1976 Kiefer Hablitzel Stipendium
1974 Kiefer Hablitzel Stipendium
1972 Kiefer Hablitzel Stipendium
John Armleder
Gypsophila petraea, 2013
Mixed media on canvas
150 x 250 cm
John Armleder
Brillian Xanthinus Arborescens, 2008
Mixed media on canvas
300 x 200 cm
John Armleder
Agastache foeniculum, 2008
Mixed media on canvas
240 x 110 cm
John Armleder
Calcite, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm
John Armleder
Cimicifuga simplex, 2008
Mixed media on canvas
170 x 130 cm
John Armleder
The Nostalgia of the Infinite, 2012
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm 39 1/2 x 39 1/2 in.
John Armleder
Dolomite, 2015
Acrylic on canvas
150 x 150 cm 59 x 59 in.
John Armleder
Galène, 2015
Acrylic on canvas
150 x 150 cm 59 x 59 in.
John Armleder
Abortiporus biennis, 2015
Mixed media on canvas
240 x 200 cm 94 1/2 x 78 3/4 in.
John Armleder
Untitled (FS 245), 1990
Acrylic on canvas and Marshall amplifier model 2205 and Marshall box model 1960B
Canvas: 190 x 190 cm (74 3/4 x 74 3/4 in.) Amplifier & Box: 110 x 77 x 38 cm (43 1/3 x 30 1/3 x 15 in.)
John Armleder
Party to a crime, 2003
25 white fluorescent lights
Dimensions variable
John Armleder
Untitled, 2001
Perspex
122 x 111 x 24 cm
John Armleder
Theodore (FS), 2001
Acetate, tinsel, wire
Dims. variable Overall ca. 180 x 180 cm (71 x 71 in.)
John Armleder
Beta Zeta, 2003
Acrylic mirror
ø 45 cm ø 17 3/4 in.
John Armleder
Voltes II, 2003
Coloured neon
Dims. variable
John Armleder
Strand (RL), FS, 2008
Acrylic on canvas Valet muet de Raymond Loewy
107 x 250 x 54 cm 42 x 98 1/2 x 21 1/4 in.
John Armleder
Frankenstein (FS), 2008
Acrylic on canvas and Van Halen "Frankenstein" Fender guitar
Paintings: 220 x 181 cm (86 3/5 x 71 1/4 in.) Overall: 220 x 420 cm (86 3/5 x 164 1/5 in.)
John Armleder
Pomona, 2011
Glass with silver and gold
255.5 x 60 cm 100 1/2 x 23 2/3 in.
John Armleder
Puzzle (FS 219), 1988-2012
Wool carpet
320 x 220 cm 126 x 86 3/5 in.
John Armleder
Anticipation (FS), 2013
Pensa Custom electric guitar, rock crystal and glass
107.5 x 111 x 52 cm 42 3/8 x 43 3/4 x 20 1/2 in.
John Armleder
Siderite, 2003
Acrylic and gold paint on unprimed canvas
300 x 190 cm
John Armleder
Entoloma Sinuatum, 2006
Mixed media on canvas
300 x 200 cm 118 x 78 3/4 in.
John Armleder
Inocybe Patouillardi, 2006
Mixed media on canvas
200 x 200 cm
John Armleder
La ora i te forerei, 2001
Folded silk
150 x 190 cm 59 x 74 4/5 in.
John Armleder
Tautira mutu e, 2006
Acrylic on canvas
200 x 200 cm 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in.
John Armleder
Amphibolite, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
300 x 200 cm
John Armleder
Antimoine, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm
John Armleder
Argent, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
170 x 130 cm 66 9/10 x 51 1/5 in.
John Armleder
Basalte, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
170 x 130 cm
John Armleder
Bismuth, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
250 x 200 cm
John Armleder
Yankee Trader, 2006
Acrylic on canvas with plastic chains
200 x 200 cm 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in.
John Armleder
Clematis campaniflora, 2008
Mixed media on canvas
170 x 130 cm 66 9/10 x 51 1/5 in.
John Armleder
Dianthus plumarius, 2008
Mixed media on canvas
240 x 180 cm 94 1/2 x 70 4/5 in.
John Armleder
Clinopyroxène, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
200 x 250 cm 78 3/4 x 98 2/5 in.
John Armleder
Diamant, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
200 x 100 cm
John Armleder
SRS, 2011
Acrylic on canvas with chromed anti-pigeon fence
180 x 155.5 cm 71 x 61 1/4 in.
John Armleder
The Enigma of an Autumn Afternoon, 2011
Acrylic on canvas
250 x 200 cm 98 1/2 x 78 3/4 in.
John Armleder
The Soothsayer's Recompense (La récompense du Devin), 2012
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm 39 1/2 x 39 1/2 in.
John Armleder
Grevasalvas, 2012
Mixed media on canvas
275 x 275 cm 108 1/4 x 108 1/4 in.
John Armleder
Languard, 2012
Mixed media on canvas
190 x 145 cm 74 4/5 x 57 in.
John Armleder
Globularia cordifolia, 2013
Mixed media on canvas
100 x 100 cm
John Armleder
Mitra Papalis, 2014
Mixed media on canvas (diptych)
Left Panel: 280 x 250 cm (110 1/4 x 98 3/8 in.) Right Panel: 280 x 100 cm (110 1/4 x 39 3/8 in.) Overall: 280 x 350 cm (110 1/4 x 137 3/4 in.)
John Armleder
Lotta di gladiatori - The Best, 2014
Acrylic on canvas
139.5 x 125 cm 55 x 49 1/4 in.
John Armleder
All Night Party (FS), 2003
52 Mylar Christmas Trees
Dims. variable
John Armleder
Crime (FS), 2003
Gesso on canvas, Mylar, 3 low seats by Urquiola
300 x 700 x 145 cm 118 1/8 x 275 5/8 x 57 1/8 in.
John Armleder
Blue John (Fluorine), FS, 2003
Acrylic on canvas, sofa by James Mont
Canvas: 240 x 160 cm (94 1/2 x 63 in.) Sofa: 71 x 241.5 x 84 cm (28 x 95 x 33 in.)
John Armleder
Diatom, 2005
Acrylic mirror and wood
Dimensions variable
John Armleder
Foraminifera (FS), 1994
Rubber, earth and flowers
H: 37 cm ø 140 cm H: 14 1/2 in. ø 55 in.
John Armleder
Ascomycetes, 2005
Aluminium, plexiglass, wood, flowers, plastic flowers and trees, monitors, DVD, ghetto blasters, CD's and fluorescent lights
Dimensions variable
John Armleder
Voltes III, 2004
White Neon
350 x 800 cm 137 4/5 x 315 in.
John Armleder
E hoi e, 2001
Neon
150 cm diam. 59 in. diam.
John Armleder
AH (Ara Arrac TT), FS, 2006
Two painted canvases, one Häberli settee and two Häberli lamps
Canvases overall: 3 x 4 m Lamps: H 185 cm Settee: 75.5 x 140 x 68 cm
John Armleder
AH (Enil Aekat), FS, 2006
Silver paint on canvas and Häberli chair
canvas: 221 x 221 cm chair: 110 x 72 x 90 cm
John Armleder
Ciliata (FS), 1994
Rubber, earth and flowers
H: 37 cm ø 140 cm H: 14 1/2 in. ø 55 in.
John Armleder
Sunny side up (KG), FS, 2008
Acrylic on canvas and wood recliner (Klaus Grabe)
Canvas: 260 x 160 cm (102 1/3 x 63 in.) Recliner: 70 x 160 x 54.5 cm (27 1/2 x 63 x 21 3/4 in.)
John Armleder
Loasaceae double, 2002
Polished silver and glass
each 13.5 x 11 x 10 cm each 5 1/3 x 4 1/3 x 4 in.
John Armleder
Kamut, 2011
Glass
93 x 154 x 10 cm 36 2/3 x 60 2/3 x 4 in.
John Armleder
Silvano, 2008
Glass
37.5 x 50 x 41 cm 14 3/4 x 19 2/3 x 16 in.
John Armleder
Illico, 2011
Gilded silver
7 x 23 x 27 cm 2 3/4 x 9 x 10 1/2 in.
John Armleder
Untitled (FS 228), 1989-2012
2 crystal chandeliers, 12 blankets, metallic hangers
170 x 220 x 50 cm
John Armleder
Glocus, 2012
Acrylic mirror on wood
116 x 250.5 cm 45 1/2 x 98 1/2 in.
John Armleder
Untitled (FS), 1986
Acrylic on canvas and curved wood
Overall installation: 156 x 133 x 11 cm Curved wood: 156 x 11 x 11 cm Canvas: 50 x 30.5 cm
John Armleder
Quarante Cercles (FS 218), 1988-2012
Wool carpet
350 x 240 cm 137 4/5 x 94 1/2 in.
John Armleder
Powder II, 2003
Mirror mounted on wood
29 x 59 cm 11 1/2 x 23 1/4 in.