Alexander Polzin (born 1973) is a German sculptor, painter,

graphic artist A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography, or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, p ...

, costume and

set designer Scenic design (also known as scenography, stage design, or set design) is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but in recent years, are mostly trained ...

Life

Born in Berlin, originally trained as a stonemason, Polzin launched his international career as a freelance sculptor, painter, graphic artist and stage designer in 1991, building on the success of his first exhibition in Berlin's Kulturhaus-Pankow four years earlier. In 1994 Polzin was invited by Dr. Gary Smith, founding director of the Einstein Forum in Potsdam, to present the first exhibition of solo work at the Institute: Arbeiten im Einstein Forum. The introduction to the exhibition catalogue was written by Professor

Hans Belting Hans Belting (born 7 July 1935 in Andernach, Rhine Province) is a German art historian and theorist of medieval and Renaissance art, as well as contemporary art and image theory. He was born in Andernach, Germany, and studied at the universities ...

. Polzin's series of paintings, Monster, appeared in a collection of images and essays edited by the pioneering American cultural historian, Sander Gilman, published in 1995. Exhibitions of his works include the

Getty Center The Getty Center, in Los Angeles, California, is a campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. The $1.3 billion center opened to the public on December 16, 1997 and is well known for its architecture, gardens, and views over ...

in Los Angeles (2000), Budapest, Bucharest and Naples (2001), at the Institute for Advanced Study Berlin (2004), Bard College, New York (2006), Van Leer Institute of Israel (2007), San Francisco International Arts Festival (2008) and at the

Teatro Real The Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) is an opera house in Madrid, Spain. Located at the Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace of Madrid, Royal Palace, and known colloquially as ''El Real'', it is considered the top institution of the performing a ...

in Madrid (2011). Sculptures in public places include "The Fallen Angel" in front of the Semper Observatory Collegium Helveticum in Zurich, the "Giordano Bruno Memorial" in Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, "Socrates" on the campus of Tel Aviv University, and "The Couple," commissioned by the Opera National de Bastille, Paris. Polzin's sculptures are all cast by Marc Krepp. Polzin has worked with the composers Amos Elkana, Helmut Lachenmann and

György Kurtág György Kurtág (; born 19 February 1926) is a Hungarian classical composer and pianist. He was an academic teacher of piano at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music from 1967, later also of chamber music, and taught until 1993. Biography György ...

connecting their music with visual arts. Polzin was a guest at the International Artist House in Herzliya, Israel, ETH Zurich, The Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, California and first 'Artist in Residence' at the Center for Advanced Study at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Law as Culture" in Bonn. Polzin taught as a guest professor at the ETH Zurich and the University of California at Santa Cruz. Polzin regularly works as a set designer for opera, dance and drama.

Stage and costume designs (selection)

* 2015 – Stage design

Mauricio Sotelo Mauricio Sotelo (born 2 October 1961 in Madrid) is a Spanish composer and conductor. Sotelo began his musical studies as a self-taught player of the guitar, and later at the Real Conservatorio de Música de Madrid. In 1979 he moved to Vienna to s ...

"El Público" (World Premiere) Teatro Real, Madrid, Director: Robert Castro – Conductor: Pablo Heras-Casado * 2015 – Stage design Christoph Willibald Gluck "Iphigénie en Tauride"

Grand Théâtre de Genève Grand Théâtre de Genève is an opera house in Geneva, Switzerland. As with many other opera houses, the Grand Théâtre de Genève is both a venue and an institution. The venue is a majestic building, towering over Place Neuve, official ...

, Director:

Lukas Hemleb Lukas Hemleb (born 1960 in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe) is a German director of plays and operas, scenic designer, and librettist. Career Born Lukas Hemmleb in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, he was in Berlin assistant of Peter Stein, Klaus Michael ...

– Conductor:

Hartmut Haenchen Hartmut Haenchen (born 21 March 1943) is a German conductor, known as a specialist for the music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and for conducting operas in the leading opera houses of the world. Career Born in Dresden, Haenchen began his music ...

* 2014 – Direction and Stage design Ludwig van Beethoven "Fidelio" Tiroler Festspiele Erl, Co-director: Sommer Ulrickson, Conductor: Gustav Kuhn * 2014 – Stage design Richard Wagner "Lohengrin"

(Madrid), Director: Lukas Hemleb – Conductor: Hartmut Haenchen * 2013 – Stage design Richard Wagner "Parsifal" Beijing Music Festival * 2013 – Stage design Wolfgang Rihm "The Conquest of Mexico"

(Madrid), Director: Pierre Audi – Conductor: Alejo Pérez * 2013 – Stage design Richard Wagner "Parsifal"

Salzburg Easter Festival The Salzburg Easter Festival (German: ''Osterfestspiele Salzburg'') is an annual festival of opera and classical music held in Salzburg, Austria during Easter week. For most of the festival's history, the resident orchestra of the Easter Festival ...

Director: Michael Schulz – Conductor: Christian Thielemann * 2012 – Stage/costume design "Never Mind" in Sophiensaele / Berlin – Director: Sommer Ulrickson * 2012 – Stage design "Sing Brother Sing"

Hao Jiang Tian ''Along the Roaring River: My Wild Ride from Mao to the Met'' (2008) is an autobiography by Hao Jiang Tian, a Chinese-American opera singer for the Metropolitan Opera. The book was published in May 2008 by John Wiley & Sons. Overview This book i ...

in China NCPA Concert Hall Orchestra Beijing/Shanghai * 2011 – Stage design "La página en blanco"

(Madrid), premiere – Composer Pilar Jurado – Director David Hermann * 2010 – Stage design "Kurs:Liebe" Freilichtspiele Schwäbisch Hall, Director: Sommer Ulrickson, Music: Moritz Gagern * 2010 – Stage design "Lovesick" Neuköllner Oper, Director: Sommer Ulrickson, Music: Moritz Gagern * 2010 – "Baucis and Philemon" by

Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...

and Konstantia Gourzi –

Festival Europäische Kirchenmusik The Festival Europäische Kirchenmusik (European Church Music Festival) (in short: EKM) is a German music festival held annually in July and August since 1989 in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The festival is attended by over 15,000 visitors each season. The p ...

, Schwäbisch Gmünd * 2009 – G. Verdi "Rigoletto"

Deutsche Oper am Rhein The Deutsche Oper am Rhein (German Opera on the Rhine) is an opera company based in Düsseldorf and Duisburg. The opera also has an associated classical ballet company. Axel Kober has been its Music Director since 2009. The resident orchestra, th ...

, Director David Hermann * 2009 – Stage/costume design "Winter – a German fairytale" based on H.Heine –

Schauspiel Frankfurt The Schauspiel Frankfurt is the municipal theatre company for plays in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. It is part of Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt. History In the late 1770s the theatre principal Abel Seyler was based in Frankfurt, and established th ...

, Director Sommer Ulrickson/ Mark Jackson * 2009 – Stage design "After Hamlet" a dance music theatre production by

Amos Elkana Amos Elkana (Hebrew: ; born August 20, 1967) is an Israeli composer and improviser. Life Amos Elkana is a multi-award-winning composer, guitarist and electronic musician. In their decision to award him the Prime Minister's Prize for Music Co ...

and Sommer Ulrickson in Santa Cruz, California. * 2008 – Stage design Benjamin Britten's "Rape of Lucretia" (Director:

David Hermann David Hermann (born 1977) is a German-French stage director focused on opera. In 2006, Hermann was the youngest stage director at the Salzburg Festival, and he has directed operas at major opera houses in Europe. Career Born in Würzburg, Herma ...

) at

Oldenburgisches Staatstheater The Oldenburgisches Staatstheater (Oldenburg State Theatre) is a German theater in the city of Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. Beginnings The theatre was first opened in the times of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, on 1 February 1833. At that time it was ...

* 2008 – Artistic Consultant for Sommer Ulrickson's "Foreign Bodies"

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public land-grant research university system in the U.S. state of California. The system is composed of the campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, ...

, Santa Cruz * 2007 – Stage design "Yes, Yes to Moscow"

Deutsches Theater Berlin The Deutsches Theater is a theater in Berlin, Germany. It was built in 1850 as Friedrich-Wilhelm-Städtisches Theater, after Frederick William IV of Prussia. Located on Schumann Street (Schumannstraße), the Deutsches Theater consists of two ad ...

* 2007 – Stage design "Woyzeck
Staatstheater Schwerin
* 2004 – Stage design "Creatures of Habit" Sophiensaele, Berlin * 2003 – Stage design "Slaughter" Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen, Potsdam * 2003 – Stage design "Jerusalem Syndrome" Sophiensaele, Berlin * 2003 – Stage design "Baucis and Philemon"

Staatsoper Berlin The (), also known as the Berlin State Opera (german: Staatsoper Berlin), is a listed building on Unter den Linden boulevard in the historic center of Berlin, Germany. The opera house was built by order of Prussian king Frederick the Great from ...

* 2002 – Stage design "Remains" Sophiensaele, Berlin

Sculptures and projects (selection)

*2015 – Cover design for "Concepts and the Social order, Robert K. Merton and the Future of Sociology", Edited by Yehuda Elkana, András Szigeti, and György Lissauer, CEU Press *2015 – Cover design for "Reflexiones sobre la ópera, el arte, y la política" by

Gerard Mortier Gerard Alfons August, Baron Mortier (25 November 1943 – 8 March 2014) was a Belgian opera director and administrator of Flemish origin. Biography Born in Ghent, the son of a baker, Mortier attended in youth the Jesuit private school Sint-Barbar ...

*2014 – Visualisation of Edvard Grieg "Peer Gynt" for

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is a Norwegian orchestra based in Bergen. Its principal concert venue is the Grieg Hall. History Established in 1765 under the name ''Det Musicalske Selskab'' (The Musical Society), it later changed its name t ...

, Conductor:

Eivind Aadland Eivind Aadland (born 19 September 1956) is a Norwegian conductor and violinist. He has been concert master of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Aadland was Chief Conductor and Artistic Leader of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra between 2004–2 ...

*2014 – Pictorial Representation of

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...

's Symphony no. 2 "Age of Anxiety" for

Aarhus Symphony Orchestra The Aarhus Symfoniorkester (Aarhus Symphony Orchestra) is the principal orchestra for the Danish city of Aarhus. Description Established in 1935 as ''Aarhus By-Orkester'' (Aarhus City Orchestra), since 1982 it has performed most of its concerts in ...

, Conductor: Benjamin Shwartz *2014 – Cover design for programme for 2014/15 season,

, Madrid *2013 – Programme design for 2013/14 season,

, Madrid *2013 – Cover design for Parsifal,

*2012 – Sculptural intervention for Helmut Lachenmann – Concert Celebration *2012 – Programme design for Turku music festival Finland *2012 – Homage to Teatro Real for the magazin
Intramuros
*2011 – Unveiling of the sculpture "Homage to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar"; Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Law as Culture" in the presence of His Excellency Ajit Kumar, Consul General of the Republic of India in Frankfurt am Main *2010 – Book on Sculpture "Requiem – Homage to

", Mathes und Seitz (Authors: Moshe Zuckermann, Jean Louis Fabiani, Peter Stefan Jungk, Judith Frigyesi Niran, Andre Plesu, Durs Gruenbein, Antjie Krog, Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin, Martin Treml, Almuth Sh. Bruckstein Coruh, Annett Groeschner, Michael Maede, Karl Heinz Barck, Peter Esterhazy, Hannah Duebgen, Michael Roes, Bettina Motikat) *2009 – Cover design –

Oliver Schneller Oliver Martin Schneller (born 26 March 1966 in Cologne) is a German composer and saxophonist. Life Schneller grew up in Ireland, Sudan, Belgium and the Philippines. After completing a MA in musicology, political science and history at the Universi ...

– Deutscher Musik Rat *2009 – Homage to Robert Merton – sound sculptures together with

for the conference "Concepts and the Social Order: Robert K. Merton and the Future of Sociology" *2009 – Cover design for Moshe Zuckermann "Sixty Years of Israel", Pahl-Rugenstein Publishers *2008/09 – Illustrations für

Lettre International ''Lettre International'' is the title of a number of cultural magazines published in various languages in Europe. The history of ''Lettre International'' dates back to 1984, the year that the original French edition (''Lettre Internationale'') fir ...

*2008 – Award Ceremony to Kofi Annan – recipient of the "kleine Bruno skulptur" (Open Society Prize) Monument to Giordano Bruno at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin

Monument to Giordano Bruno at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin

*2008 – Installation of

Giordano Bruno Giordano Bruno (; ; la, Iordanus Brunus Nolanus; born Filippo Bruno, January or February 1548 – 17 February 1600) was an Italian philosopher, mathematician, poet, cosmological theorist, and Hermetic occultist. He is known for his cosmologic ...

Monument at Potsdamer Platz, Berlin (Bahnhof Potsdamer Platz – Deutsche Bahn AG). Speeches by the Italian Ambassador (Puri Purini) and German author Durs Grünbein *2008 – Memorial stone for

George Tabori George Tabori ( György Tábori; 24 May 1914 – 23 July 2007) was a Hungarian writer and theatre director. Life and career Tabori was born in Budapest as György Tábori, a son of Kornél and Elsa Tábori. His father Kornél (Cornelius) was m ...

in the Dorotheenstadt cemetery, Berlin *2008 – Inauguration of the sculpture "The Couple" in the foyer of the

Opera National de Paris Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libretti ...

– speech by Prof.

*2006 – Design and production of the Elemér Hantos Prize for the Central Europe Foundation, Zürich *2005 – "neunzehnter" exhibition in the Berliner Kunsthaus ACUD *2005 – Cover photo for Rigas Laiks (Kunstmagazin / Lettland) *2004 – Portrait of Josef Tal for CD recording by NDR Radio Philharmonie *2004 – Series of pictures and cover for book on

Heiner Müller Heiner Müller (; 9 January 1929 – 30 December 1995) was a German (formerly East German) dramatist, poet, writer, essayist and theatre director. His "enigmatic, fragmentary pieces" are a significant contribution to postmodern drama and postdr ...

"Kalkfell II" Academy of the Arts *2003 – Series of six paintings of Thomas Brasch for a book published by the Academy of Arts, Berlin. Bought for the Collection of Foreign Ministry *2002 – Sculptures commissioned for the

ETH Zürich (colloquially) , former_name = eidgenössische polytechnische Schule , image = ETHZ.JPG , image_size = , established = , type = Public , budget = CHF 1.896 billion (2021) , rector = Günther Dissertori , president = Joël Mesot , ac ...

*2002 – Series of paintings

Herbst *2001 – Memorial stone for Thomas Brasch in the Dorotheenstadt cemetery Berlin *2001 – Presentation in the Arts Gallery, Berlin on Long Night of Sciences *2001 – Commission for the mural "Chaim's Brief" for the renovated Jewish Orphanage Berlin-Pankow / Installation of the granite sculpture "The Stone Merchant" in front of the orphanage *2000 – Central European University in Budapest:

Monument (Sculpture)

Exhibitions (selection)

*2015 – Kunstmuseum Ahrenshoop "Aus meinem Augenfenster...Hommage an Thomas Brasch" *2015 – Grand Théâtre de Genève *2015 – Maestro Arts, London "Remains – Opera, Art, Music" *2014 – Galerie Kornfeld, Berlin *2013 – Maestro Arts, London *2013 –

Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum The Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum is a literary museum in St Petersburg, Russia, dedicated to the poet Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966). It opened in 1989 on the centennial of Akhmatova's birth. The palace The museum is located in the ...

, St. Petersburg *2013 –

*2011 – Sculptural exhibition Teatro Real Madrid *2011 – Presentation of the sculptures series äsentation der Skulpturenserie "Five sculptural sketches of Caravaggio's David and Goliath" with Prof.

; Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Law as Culture" Bonn *2008 – ArtworkSF, San Francisco International Arts Festival *2008 – jw Galerie, Berlin *2007 –

Van Leer Jerusalem Institute The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute (VLJI) is a center for the interdisciplinary study and discussion of issues related to philosophy, society, culture, and education. The Institute was established in to create a body of knowledge and discourseto ...

, Israel *2007 – International Artists House Herzliya, Israel *2007 – Solo Exhibition

The Negev Museum of Art The Negev Museum of Art is an art museum in the Old City of Be'er Sheva, Israel. The building is the former Governor's Mansion, built in 1906 by the Ottomans as part of government edifices that include the Seraya and the local mosque. Building ...

, Tel Be'er Sheva, Israel *2006 –

Felicja Blumental Felicja Blumental (28 December 1908 – 31 December 1991) was a Polish pianist and composer. "She was one of the relatively few women born in the first quarter of the twentieth century to have achieved an important career as a concert pianist ...

Center Tel Aviv, Israel *2006 – Schloss Neuhardenberg, "Homage to Kurtag" *2006 – Bard College, New York *2006 – Solo Exhibition

Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut (, GI, en, Goethe Institute) is a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide with 159 institutes, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and ...

Los Angeles (opening speech: Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht) *2006 –

New York (opening speech: Edward Mendelson) *2004 –

Berlin Institute for Advanced Study The Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin (german: Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin) is an interdisciplinary institute founded in 1981 in Grunewald, Berlin, Germany, dedicated to research projects in the natural and social sciences. It is modeled ...

(opening speech: Durs Grünbein) *2004 – "Age of Anxiety" Opendoors Openeyes – Bordeaux, France *2004 – shadow-collaborations, Chernoff Gallery, Novosibirsk, Russia *2001 – Martin-Gropius-Bau "Theatre of Nature and Art": "Meditierende Gruppe" (Skulpturengruppe) *2001 –

, Naples, Bucharest and Budapest Exhibition "Age of Anxiety" (Eroeffnungsreden: Imre Kertész, Andrei Pleșu) *1999 – "Age of Anxiety" in Galerie Forum Amalienpark, Berlin: 99 paintings inspired by W. H. Auden's poem of the same title (opening speech: Moshe Zuckermann) *1998 – Galerie Ariadne in Vienna (opening speech: Herbert Lachmayer) *1998 –

Ägyptisches Museum The Egyptian Museum of Berlin (german: Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung) is home to one of the world's most important collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including the iconic Nefertiti Bust. Since 1855, the collection is a part of t ...

, Berlin (opening speech: Elmar Zorn) *1997–2001 – Einstein Forum, Potsdam with pictures and sculptures (opening speech: Gary Smith) *1997 –

Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (german: Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften), abbreviated BBAW, is the official academic society for the natural sciences and humanities for the States of Germany, German ...

(opening speech: Dieter Simon) *1995 – Givat Ha Viva Kibbutz, (Israel) Exhibition "Monster" (20 paintings) followed by publication of the book "Abortion" with images and essays edited by Sander Gilman (opening speech: Yehuda Elkana)

Artist in residence (selection)

*2010/11 – Artist-in-Residence Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Law as Culture", Bonn *2008 – Visiting Artist at the

in Santa Cruz *2006 – Artist-in-Residence

Villa Montalvo The Montalvo Arts Center is a non-profit center for the arts in Saratoga, California, United States. Open to the public, Montalvo comprises a cultural and arts center, a park, hiking trails and the historic Villa Montalvo, an Italian Mediterran ...

and Don Lucas Artists Program *2005 – McCloy Fellowship in Art *2000 –

Los Angeles *1998 – Collegium Helveticum Zürich, Exhibition and Artist in Residence

*1996/97 – Invitation to International Artists House in Herzliya, Israel (6 months): sculpture "The Stone Merchant" and Exhibition (Text: "The Stone Beast has lost its earlobe")

Curator (selection)

*2011 – Curator of the conference "Guilt II" at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Law as Culture" Bonn, including guest speakers ,

Toshio Hosokawa is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music. He studied in Germany but returned to Japan, finding a personal style inspired by classical Japanese music and culture. He has composed operas, the oratorio ''Voiceless Voice in Hiroshima' ...

, Fawwaz Traboulsi and Ryoko Aoki *2010 – Curator of the conference "Guilt I" at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Right as Culture" Bonn, including guest speakers

Sudhir Kakar Sudhir Kakar (born 25 July 1938) is an Indian psychoanalyst, novelist and author in the fields of cultural psychology and the psychology of religion. Education and personal life Kakar spent his early childhood near Sargodha, now in Pakistan and ...

Ramin Jahanbegloo Ramin Jahanbegloo ( fa, رامین جهانبگلو, born 28 December 1956 in Tehran) is an Iranian philosopher and academic based in Toronto, Canada. Biography Ramin Jahanbegloo was born in Tehran, Iran. He has a doctorate in philosophy from Sorb ...

, Antjie Krog and Fritz Lichtenhahn *2009 – Consultant for Exhibition design "Images in the Islamic World" in Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin *2009 – Guest Professor for Stage Design at UCSC, USA.

References

External links

Biografie mit Foto
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polzin, Alexander 1973 births Living people German sculptors German male sculptors Artists from Berlin