Bert Theis
"I'm a builder of platforms. Usually I build platforms with white painted wood, the most known being probably the "Philosophical Platform" for Sculpture Projects in Münster, 1997. My platforms, (...) are social spaces, where all kinds of activities can freely happen." -Bert Theis
(b. 1952 in Luxembourg, died there in 2016, lived and worked in Milan)
Bert Theis was an artist and activist often circling around the themes of ecological policies, urbanisation and gentrification in his works. His international acclaim arose at the 1995 Venice Biennale, where he represented Luxembourg. Theis was mostly known for his large site-specific urban installations in densely populated areas based on public platforms and pavilions in parks. He has organized and directed two long-term projects - Isola Art Center and out-Office for Urban Transformation - around the conflict opposing the inhabitants of the Isola district, Milan City government and an American multinational company.
Although most of his works were created in situ, Bert Theis also participated in many international exhibitions and events, including solo shows Agglomérations at MAMCO, Geneva (2007), Plateformes et Aggregation at Erna Hecey Gallery, Brussels (2008) and most recently at Le Printemps de Septembre, Toulouse (2018), LUCA - Luxembourg Center for Architecture (2017) and Padiglione d'Arte Vivente, Torino, Italy (2015). He was part of numerous international group exhibitions, i.e. at MOCAK - Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (2016); CNAP et Galerie Fernand Léger, Yvry s/Seine (2015); Pavillon de l'Arsenal, Paris (2016, 2015); Vienna Secession, Austria (2014); MAXXI, Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, Rom (2014); Castello di Rivoli, Torino, Italy (2013); MUDAM, Luxembourg (2012, 2006); the Venice Biennale (2011); The 10th Istanbul Biennial (2007), and Skulptur Projekte Münster (1997). Permanent installations can be found at Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge, Paris; Luicciana di Cantagallo, Italy; MNHA Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art du Luxembourg. In 2019, the MUDAM honored the work of Bert Theis with a restrospective exhibition entitled Building Philosophy - Cultivating Utopia.
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Aggloville, 2007
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Running Water, (W)right House, 2006
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European Pentagon, Safe & Sorry Pavilion, 2005
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It's not up to us to supply reality, 2004
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KB Project, 2004
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Growing House, 2003
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Tirana pa makina, 2003
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M’ambo München, 2001
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A.Q., 1999
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By-pass Niels Bohr, 1998
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rosso, 1994
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What is hidden doesn’t interest us, 1994
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Vivisezione, 1993
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Pays sage 1, 1991
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Pays sage 10, 1991
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Pays sage 14, 1991
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Pays sage 16, 1991
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Pays sage 2, 1991
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Pays sage 2, 1991
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Pays sage 4, 1991
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Pays sage 4, 1991
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Pays sage 5, 1991
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Das Labyrinth, 1987
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Szene aus: « Von Platen jagt das kollektive Unbewusste », 1987
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Bert Theis | 3rd Industrial Art Biennal
10 October - 21 November 2020 | Rasa, Croatia October 14, 2020For its third edition, the Industrial Art Biennal entitled Ride Into The Sun is taking place from 10 October until 21 November this year, in...Read more -
Bert Theis | Pays sages 1991
8 October 2020 - 5 February 2021 | Chambre de Commerce, Luxembourg September 21, 2020Due to the current sanitary restrictions, we kindly ask you to book an appointment to visit the Chambre de Commerce: please contact office@ernahecey.com. At...Read more -
Bert Theis | HIER, AUJOURD'HUI, DEMAIN
20 JUNE - 6 SEPTEMBER 2020 | Mudam Luxembourg - Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean July 8, 2020Hier, Aujourd'hui, Demain presents works from Mudam's collection across three floors of the museum. This collection presentation is on display until September 6, 2020. It...Read more -
Bert Theis | BUILDING PHILOSOPHY, CULTIVATING UTOPIA
30 MARCH - 25 AUGUST 2019 | MUDAM LUXEMBOURG - MUSÉE D'ART MODERNE GRAND-DUC JEAN March 30, 2019Building Philosophy – Cultivating Utopia is the first retrospective exhibition dedicated to the work of Luxembourg-born artist Bert Theis (1952-2016). Bert Theis’s oeuvre can be...Read more