MARTIN GRANDITS

The aesthetics of everyday life play a central role in Martin Grandits' work. For example, thepiece Parkbench after R. Wagner's Tannhäuser is a homage to the classic park bench,traditionally a meeting point for young people, a place for exchange and experiences in urbanspaces. The painting Wir fahren mit der Gumpendorfer Geisterbahn aka. (X. H. und ihreLämmer Lamm am Weg zur Galerie) addresses the divergence of daily life, describing the artist'sobservations during his daily tram ride to the studio. In addition to everyday themes, MartinGrandits also tackles political subjects, which he approaches with satire and humour. "If you canconvey critical things with a smile, then that is, in my opinion, a good approach to start adiscourse. If you can open people's eyes with it, that is valuable," says Martin Grandits. Theconcept planned for 2025, Bollwerk im Süden (Haram Wall), forms a barrier of pork sausages,addressing the growing politics of border closures. Everyday life, personal experiences,consumption, pop culture, and high culture are assembled by Martin Grandits. Fahim Amir callsit profound levity—what grins through some of Martin Grandits' works.

The painting Sunflowers (Jesus don't want me for a Sunbeam), as well as the bronze cast Black Sunflowers, are inspired by the lyrics from the song Jesus don't want me for a Sunbeam by thegrunge band Nirvana. The sunflowers with their drooping heads symbolize melancholy andhopelessness for Grandits.With works like Platz der goldenen Kniescheiben, the aforementioned Bollwerk im Süden(Haram Wall), or the SMZ-Ost Selbstmordzentrum Ost (Fake Beton), Martin Grandits presentsvisual concepts for public spaces alongside his sculptures, paintings, and photographs. Thename "Marin Ghita," the artist's alter ego from his student days, reappears in the form of titles ofworks. This is also the case with the sculpture Marin Ghita—Ritter ohne Furcht und Tadel(Bremsspur - Templer), a construction made of fine-ribbed underpants and a knight's helmet.The name is borrowed from an article in the Kronenzeitung about a fully drunken burglar.

Martin Grandits (born 1982, lives and works in Vienna) studied at the University of Applied Artsin the class of Brigitte Kowanz. He has participated in all editions of the Parallel Vienna in soloor group presentations and his works are part of both public and private art collections. Somerecent solo and group exhibitions by Martin Grandits include Über das Neue at Belvedere 21,Vienna 2023, Schneller. Higher. Stärker. (solo) at Plain Art, Vienna 2022, MISA Cologne byJohann König Gallery at VAN HAM Kunst Halle, Cologne 2022, Absolut Grandits (solo) at tresor,Bank Austria Kunstforum, Vienna 2019, Ordination, organized by Kerstin von Gabain & SophieTappeiner, Vienna 2018, Lightness and Matter, curated by Brigitte Kowanz, Kunstraum NOE,Vienna 2017, Wrong Floor- See What Sees You, curated by Franz Graf, Belvedere 21, Vienna2014. In 2021, Martin Grandits was part of the group exhibition Curated by J