JOHN BOCK

The term which Bock employs most often in relation to his works is that of ‘Kunstwohlfahrt’ (art welfare). The idea of artistic social services seems to stand in stark opposition to this work which violates all certitudes and conventions. But Bock is serious in this matter: Quite aware that there exists no such thing as an ideal viewer, he endeavors with his highly invasive works to attack each viewer individually, to shake him up privately, and thereby to induce him to reconsider the terms and ideas upon which he has uncritically established the foundations of his life.

John Bock (*1965, Gribbohm, Germany) lives in Berlin. Selected solo exhibitions include Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin (2019), Fondazione Prada, Milano (2018), Contemporary Austin (2017), La Panacée, Montpellier (2017), Berlinische Galerie, Berlin (2017), Bundeskunsthalle Bonn (2013), Kunstverein Hamburg (2013), Städel Museum, Frankfurt (2012), Temporäre Kunsthalle Berlin (2010). Selected group exhibitions include Sammlung Falckenberg/Deichtorhallen, Hamburg (2019), Montréal Museum of Fine Art (2017), Kunsthalle Rostock (2017), Marta Herford, Germany (2017), Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (2016), Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Germany (2016), Guggenheim Museum, New York (2015), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2011). He participated in Documenta XI, Kassel (2002) as well as the 55th Venice Biennial (2013), the 51^st Venice Biennial (2005) and the 48^th Venice Biennial (1999).

Text courtesy Sprüth Magers.