Contemporary Art & Artists: ARTS 1001 Blog

Emily Barth
Toyna's Group
Artist Research Project
November 26th 2008

Kai Althoff- A German Painter

A powerful theme in the eyes of the beholder Kai Althoff uses backdrops of war, religion, and pub-land to covey the theme of male domain along with violence, sensuality, vulnerability, and enticement. His painting has a timeless way about them, and as the viewer examines his work they see history repeating itself right before their eyes. He is driven by the need to reconcile with Germany’s history, and his longing for masculine identity and politics is apparent.
Although he is primarily a painter he works with other types of media well. These include but are not limited to sculpture and collage, utilizing materials like resin, oils, tape, and tin foil. He uses a broad visual language to convey his ideas. Many people find his work controversial since it addresses forgotten wars and gruesome scenes, as well as orgy-esque scenes that could be considered crude or too intimate for the eyes of the public. Sexuality and sensuality are both common in his pieces.
Kai Althoff was born in Cologne, Germany and is well known as a musician and the leader of German band named Workshop whose first album was recorded in 1990. This, perhaps, has influenced the ways he makes installations and videos with the touch of urban sound and narrative, not true stories, but as true of a fiction as one could see.
Critics say that Kai Althoff “walks a tightrope between high and low culture� often questioning his pieces but always thinking about the relationship they have with the viewer and the space they are shown in. He tries to deliberately avoid refined and proper techniques, giving his pieces the raw edgy feeling needed to portray his ideas. He tries to balance his work with elements of organic and abstract, combining sound tracks with drawing, videos and installations. It seems surreal and yet a viewer can identify with his message. He is a well rounded artist who knows exactly who he is and what he is trying to say.