(collective) Banz&Bowinkel

The computer allows us to simulate reality. Although the simulation itself is not real it inherits a certain power to become real. Today, it is increasingly normal to transfer simulated reality into physical reality. With the help of computers the vast majority of our environment is simulated before it is produced. The more complex the simulation, the greater its potential to reality. this said the distinction between the simulation and its physical counterpart is becoming increasingly difficult. The preconditions of our perception change: what is real and when? At which point will it no longer be possible to look behind these self-generated images? What is the nature of a such-created reality? Our simulations are to be understood as quests for the computer. By solving them it is to reveal its inherent structure. The second point of interest: you first have to define reality before you can simulate it. You do not have a predefined button for reality. Reality is always set by us. By our parameters. Thus, we define the scope of action for the simulation. According to Heisenberg the results of such experiments act according to their setup. This loop is the basic building block of the computer and for us of particular interest.
The people that define these aforementioned “realities” inside the computer, their algorithms, are going to control our perception.
Our work deals with the study of such relationships to create images from behind the mirrors.

Giulia Bowinkel
1983 born in Düsseldorf, Germany
2002-2008 Study at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with Professor Gerhard Merz and Professor Albert Oehlen

Friedemann Banz
1980 born in Mainz, Germany
2001-2007 Study at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with Professor Albert Oehlen


Selected Exhibitions
Groupshows: (G) | Soloshows: (S)

2019 Anders wohnen - Dystopie, Haus Esters, Museum Krefeld (G)
2019 Cylinder and Bots, DAM Gallery, Berlin (S)
2019 AR Avatar, Digital Arts Lab, Berlin (G)
2019 Transfer Download, Spring / Break Art Show LA, Los Angeles (G)
2019 IN MEDIAS RES, Kunstverein Arnsberg (G)
2019 Cube - Virtual Natives - Sculpture, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Zurich (G)

2018 Projected.Capital, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Zurich (G)
2018 ENVISIONING THE FUTURE, Halcyon Arts Lab, Washington DC (G)
2018 Artificial Paradise?, KM - Halle für Kunst & Medien, Graz (G)
2018 DC Open, Galerie Falko Alexander, Cologne (G)
2018 DIE ZUKUNFT DER ZEICHNUNG: ALGORITHMUS, Museum Abteiberg Mönchengladbach (G)
2018 Retune Festival, Silent Green Kulturquartier, Berlin (G)
2018 Very Real, DAM Gallery, Berlin (G)
2018 VRHAM Festival, Oberhafenquartier Hamburg (G)
2018 Disorder of Appearance, Kunst & Denker, Düsseldorf (S)
2018 Digital Sculpture, Museum Ulm (G)

2017 digital/real, dieMobiliar, Bern (G)
2017 Schöne neue Welten, Zeppelin Museum, Friedrichshafen (G)
2017 BIOS, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Zurich (S)
2017 RESET III and VIRTUAL REALITY, Priska Pasquer Gallery, Cologne (G)
2017 Now on View, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Zurich (G)
2017 Digital Bodies, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan (S)
2017 Unreal, NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf (G)
2017 Substance, DAM Gallery, Berlin (S)
2017 Video- & Performance-Festival PLAY/III, Cologne/Düsseldorf (G)
2017 Unpainted, Palazzo Pisani, Venice (G)
2017 Baies vitrées, Villa Bernasconi, Geneve (G)
2017 Evolutionary Urge, NAVEL, Los Angeles (G)
2017 Video of the month, HMKV, Hartware MedienKunstVerein, Dortmund (S)
2017 The Unframed World, HEK, House of Electronic Arts, Basel (G)

2016 Rushing into water, filmstudio extended, BAMBI Filmstudio, Düsseldorf
2016 VR 01 - mercury, Parkhaus im Malkastenpark, Düsseldorf (S)
2016 die digitale, digital art & music festival, Düsseldorf (G)
2016 Bodypaint Edition, Handelsblatt | Kunst & Denker (S)
2016 DAM:TEMPORARY, DAM Gallery, Berlin (G)
2016 70. Internationale Bergische Kunstausstellung, Museum Solingen (G)
2016 Virtual Body, NRW-Forum Düsseldorf (G)
2016 Spring Exhibition, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen (G)
2016 Unpainted - Lab 3.0, MMA, München (G)

Residencies | Awards

2018 AURORA-School for Artist, Europäischer Fonds für regionale Kultur, Berlin
2017 Digital Sculpture Award, Institute of digital art, HfK+G Ulm
2015 Project funding, Kunststiftung NRW, Germany
2014 Painting Art Award, Baustelle | Schaustelle, Essen, Germany
2014 Artist Residency Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel
2011 Bronner Residency of Kunststiftung NRW/Goethe Institut, Tel Aviv, Israel
2010 Rölfs-Partner Award, KIT, Düsseldorf, Germany
2008 Tong Xian Art Center Residency, Beijing, China