¿Being Home? by Rupprecht Matthies
2009
Foam, Plexiglas, wood, fabric, Styrofoam, and acrylic paint
Patron: Nancy Benson
To make ¿Being Home?, Rupprecht Matthies solicited words from newly arrived refugees from around the world about their experiences resettling in Denver. He also asked a DAM audience for their word choices. He then carved these words in wood, Plexiglas, and foam. The resulting words are in English as well as many other languages, from Arabic to Kareni.
¿Being Home? is located on level one of the Hamliton Building. The work was executed with help from refugees, students, DAM visitors, staff, volunteers, and countless other members of the Denver community.
© Rupprecht Matthies. Photos by Jeff Wells.
Meet the Artist
Rupprecht Matthies was born in 1959 in Hamburg, Germany, where he continues to live and work. His early educational background was in sociology, which is evident in his continued interest in producing socially committed art. He studied at the Hamburg Hochschule für Bildende Künste from 1980-1986. Since that time he has shown in numerous group exhibitions, and received his first solo show in 1989.
In 1998 Matthies began producing public art works, and in 2000 his shift to socially committed art was cemented with his participation in ongoing community improvement programs in the German city of Neuruppin. In 2003 he participated in a group show, Niemand ist eine Insel(No Man is an Island), curated by the Gesellschaft für aktuelle Kunst, Bremen, in which he brought his work with the community directly into the art making process and exhibition for his work Verzichten (Relinquish). Since 2003 he has participated in exhibitions throughout Germany and Western Europe. He has also published a number of books including NA UND! (1999), Mut (2006), and Discussion Diaries I & II (2008). His work is included in the public collection of the Hamburg Kunsthalle and the Neues Museum Nürnberg. He is represented by Produzentengalerie in Hamburg.
Photo of the artist by Marc Piscotty.
Recent Work
Leben lachen harmonie (Life laughter harmony), 2009. Image courtesy of the artist and Produzentengalerie, Hamburg.
Verzichten (Go Without), 2003. Painted wood. Image courtesy of the artist and Produzentengalerie, Hamburg.
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