Film by Horst Brandenburg & Benjamin Wistorf – Subtitles Bettina Sanchez

Ulf Saupe epitomizes the avant-garde of late postmodern artists who have reshaped the landscape of photography during the early 21st century. His work transcends conventional boundaries, delving deep into conceptual and visual experimentation while weaving a narrative that speaks to personal identity, immediacy, and the human experience.

Rooted in Saupe’s formative memories of growing up in the GDR and influenced by the seismic shifts followed by the fall of the Berlin Wall, his art defies categorization within traditional photographic norms. Instead, he explores timeless themes that resonate with the fabric of existence.

Saupe’s deliberate fusion of the tactile and the spiritual challenges artistic conventions, blurring the lines between abstraction and representation, formalism, and conceptualism. This approach invites viewers to perceive color and concepts as interconnected facets of sensory experience, extending beyond mere visual stimuli.

Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences, from the analytical conceptualism of Floris Neusüss to the biomorphic surrealism of Yves Klein, Saupe’s oeuvre bears the unmistakable imprint of the complexity of European art. Yet, beneath these influences lies a potent alchemical energy drawn from the natural world, infusing his works with a primal vitality.

In Saupe’s captivating artwork, elemental forces come alive, inviting viewers on a transformative journey of discovery and introspection. His imagery, ranging from the fluidity of water to the destructive power of fire and the timeless resilience of stone, serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between humanity and nature.

Christian Domínguez

Curriculum vitae

1979 born in Halle Saale

1999 – 2000
studied German and English at University of Kassel

2000 – 2003
studied Visual Communication and Fine Arts focused on experimental Photography in Class of Prof. Floris M. Neusüss at University of Arts in Kassel

2003 – 2006 lived in Madrid – Compultense de Madrid

2006 Degree in Fine Arts, University of Kassel
 
since 2007 works and lives in Berlin

Selected Shows

2023   Fluidity, A photographic exploration of spirituality in Water, Anderson Contemporary, New York, (G)
            Ulf zeigt Georg. Georg zeigt Ulf, Ulf Saupe and Jiri Georg Dokoupil, Kuenzler Weder, Zurich (G)   
            Ap_art_ment, Space Gallery, New York (G)
            I see you – Raum für Kunst, Berlin (G)
            KIB – Raum für Kunst, Berlin (G)
            Inmediaciòn, Solo Show at Museum CAAM curated by Fernando Castro Flórez, Gran Canaria Spain
            Water – Space Gallery St Barth, solo show, New York 
2022   Stein – Kuenzler Weder, Zurich (S) 
            Fluidity – SRH @ KIB – Groupshow, Berlin
2020   New Works, Kuenzler Weder, Zurich
2019   Eigenbedarf – Uferhalle, Berlin group show
2018   Anna Atkins refracted: Contemporary Works, The New York Public Library
            Hätte, hätte … Kunsthandel Kuenzler, Zürich
            Denn ich habe schon alles gesehn … Oststern, Frankfurt
2017   Das Blaue Land – Neue Impulse für die Kunst, Kunststiftung Petra Benteler, Murnau
            Unpredictable, Schaufenster Galerie, Berlin curated by Green & Gonzalez
            Enter Art Foundation, Berlin
2016   The Form, Colour, Texture of … – General Store, Sydney
            Cine Mare | Art Objective, Volksbühne, Roter Salon, Berlin
            Waterscapes, Pixel Grain, Berlin
2015   Water Drops, Millerntor Gallery, Hamburg
            Waterscapes, The Bumiller Collection, Berlin
2011   Art Cellar, Pret a Diner – Alte Münze, Berlin
2009   Die Natur der Dinge, Epson Kunstbetrieb, Düsseldorf
2008   La Districta , La Regenta, Las Palmas, Spain
2007   Spiegelportraits und Schattenbilder (E), Galerie Scala, Berlin
2007   Die zweite Avantgarde, Das Fotoforum Kassel 1972-1982, Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg, Halle Saale
2006   Fotogramme (E), AoRTa, Chisinau, Moldavia
2006   Biennale for young Artists, Bucuresti, Romania
2006   Ohne Titel, Galerie Berlin (E)
2006   Für Mutti – 11 Bildgedichte, Alte Brüderkirche Kassel (E)
2005   100 Artists for a Museum, International Contemporary Art Museum, Casoria, Italy