Hubertus Gojowczyk (born 1943, Poland) uses books as the creative origin and the material source of his work. Since 1968, Gojowczyk has been making what he describes as 'book objects,' works of art fabricated through the manipulation of books and other printed matter. In so doing, Gojowczyk allows these book objects to shed their literary/textual identity and become literal symbols of deconstruction, reconstruction, alienation and transformation.
Hubertus Gojowczyk completed his studies at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. There he worked from 1967 to 1971 with Rolf Sackenheim, Diter Rot and Joseph Beuys. From 1965 to 1997 the artist was employed as a teacher of art. Already during his studies Gojowczyk began working with books and book objects. In 1972 and 1977 he participated at the documenta. At the documenta 6 in 1977 he showed his well received "Tür zur Bibliothek" (Door to the Library). From 2008-2009 the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (German National Library) in Frankfurt showed a retrospective of his work, including more than 120 of his objects.
Gojowczyk lives and works in Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia.
1943 Born in Oels/Silesia, (today Olesnica/Slask, Poland).
1946 Family moves to Northeim, Lower Saxony.
1954-63 Attends high school in Duderstadt/Eichsfeld, Lower Saxony.
1963-65 Attends the College of Education (Studium an der Pädagogischen Hochschule), Koblenz.
1965 Begins teaching.
1967 Moves to Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia.
1967-71 Studies at the Art Academy, Dusseldorf, with Rolf Sackenheim, Diter Rot (Dieter Roth), and Joseph Beuys.
1968 Begins working with books and "book objects."
1997 Retires from teaching.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013"Hubertus Gojowczyk" exhibition at Moeller Fine Art, New York
2012 "In the cicle of books" exhibition at Arte-Halle, Welchenhausen
2009 "Eric Fonteneau - Hubertus Gojowczyk" exhibition at Moeller Fine Art, Berlin. "Ouverture" exhibition at Moeller Fine Art, Berlin
Wall works for new building of the Mediothek Krefeld
2008-09 "Gutenberglabyrinth" exhibition at the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, Frankfurt am Main
2005 "Hubertus Gojowczyk: The Book As Object," exhibition at Achim Moeller Fine Art, New York
2004 Represented at Art Basel, Switzerland, by Achim Moeller Fine Art, New York.
2000 Outdoor-Installations at centre artistique,Verderonne
1971First solo exhibition at the Siebrasse Bookshop and Gallery, Cologne
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2003"Through the Labrynth," exhibition at the German Library, Leipzig
"Book Circles," exhibition at the German Library, Frankfurt
Represented at Art Basel Miami Beach, by Achim Moeller Fine Art, New York
2002 "Works in the Church," exhibition at the Church of St. Johannes, Katlenburg, Lower Saxony
2001 "Book Objects: Wunderkammer," exhibition at Franckesche Stiftungen, Halle
1994"Works in the Tower," exhibition at the Hölderlinturm, Tübingen
1990 Receives Greenburger Foundation Award, New York
1980Exhibits at the Gutenberg-Museum, Mainz and at the Herzog August Library, Wolfenbüttel
1979Awarded the Villa Romana Prize by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
1977Participates in Documenta 6, Kassel.
1975Exhibits at the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld
1972Participates in Documenta 5, Kassel
1970Participates for the first time in the Frankfurt Book Fair