From the mid-1980s onward, Harald Klingelhöller has placed a significant emphasis on the intersection of sculpture and language within his works. Utilizing a diverse array of materials, ranging from fragile paper and cardboard to sturdy steel and granite, his creations establish a formal and conceptual dialogue between elements of narration and the visual arts. The poetic and metaphorical linguistic constructions that precede his sculptural works serve as more than just titles; they are intricately woven into the varying forms of his sculptures. In essence, his sculptures can be seen as three-dimensional interpretations of both written and spoken language, utilizing intonation, repetition, variation, and the linear flow of letters. The words and titles used in his works are drawn from a multitude of sources, including the press, poems, and medical or legal texts. He describes himself as a “linguistic flaneur.”
Klingelhöller has had several solo exhibitions dedicated to his works, such as “Schneefall erzählt” at Skulpturenhalle, Thomas Schütte Stiftung, Neuss-Düsseldorf, Germany in 2021; “Roads after the rain (double, star-shaped) (Strassen nach dem Regen (zweifach, sternför mig))” at Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Romainville, France in 2021; “Resembling something not occurred (Kette)” at Jeffrey Starck, N.Y., USA in 2016; “Wo jeder Gegenstand, Seine eigenen Worte, So trägt, Wie jede Blum, ihren eigenen Duft, (Kette)” at Tucci Russo, Torre Pelice, Turin, Italy in 2015; “Harald Klingelhöller” at Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, Cragg-Foundation, Wuppertal, Germany in 2014; “The Sea at Ebb Tide Dreamed” at Museu Serralves, Porto, Portugal in 2007; “…Wie Landschaften auf Worte reagieren…” at Städtische Galerie, Karlsruhe, Germany in 2005; “Alle Metaphern werden wahr – Skulpturen 1986-1997” at Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, München, Germany in 1997-1998; and exhibitions at Art Gallery of York University, Toronto, Canada in 1996, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, United Kingdom in 1990, and Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven.
www.ftn-books.com has several Klingelhöller titles available.
