Ben Gyula Fodor, born in Dorog, Hungary; since escaping from communist Hungary in 1981, he has lived and worked mainly in Vienna and has been present in the art world since 2000. Fodor uses the media of photography, installation, drawing, and performance in multiple ways and combinations; solo and since 2015 also in the artist duo Time Gates. Fodor‘s work describes an arc from artistic research on past and present utopias and dystopias (cycle Incipit Vita Nova) to the exploration of future „utopian“ spaces (series Carmine, Horizon).This was preceded by an exploration of the „state of limbo“, which represents the creative and enriching side of uprooting through migration (series noosphere). As a visual equivalent to all of this, Fodor is interested in overcoming conventional three-dimensional representation and creating innovative visions of spatiality - in the picture space and beyond. With works in public space (Fodors Wall, Future Skills, Photocube no door) he also addresses global sociopolitical issues.
„Fodor‘s images are border markers, documents of a border crosser. He reaches moments that seem like cracks in reality: The irritating strangeness, the unfamiliar and sometimes enigmatic nature of his images allows us to sense
new and different things visible beyond the border.“ (Cathrin Pichler).
Works a.o. in the collection of MUMOK Vienna and the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest. Exhibitions and projects (selection): Kunsthalle Vienna, Ludwig Museum and Vasarely Museum Budapest, Museum Jena, school of kyiv
department Vienna, steirischer herbst, Ars Electronica, Marcello Farabegoli Projects, Rudolf Leeb Galerie, Walden project space Berlin, Christine König Gallery. Artist books: noosphere and Incipit Vita Nova (Kerber Berlin).
Exhibitions and projects (selection)
2024
upcoming April 27 Kai 10 / Arthena Foundation Düsseldorf: Riverscreen Cinema by TIME GATES (museum version) as part of the Düsseldorf Museum Night.
upcoming, March Organhaus Chongqing, China: artist residency and exhibition by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank)
# sculptura #2 exhibition Brussels (Tour & Taxis / Gare Maritime): Fodor's Wall
2023
# Austrian Cultural Forum New York: thematic show TOUCH NATURE (curated by Sabine Fellner and Stephanie Buhmann): Studies on Green by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank). https://acfny.org/exhibition/touch-nature/
# Central Garden Vienna: Artistic Boat Parade by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank), at the festival LITTLE DONAU III. Euro-asian water plays (curated by Dorothee Frank). https://www.centralgarden.at/?s=time+gates
# Place du Luxembourg Brussels in cooperation with Austrian Cultural Forum Brussels: Fodor´s Wall, installation in public space and performance by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank).
# ASIATOPIA International Performance Art Festival Bankok: Performance Science Fiction Vanitas by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank)
2022
# Light Art Museum Budapest, opening show.
# Künstlerhaus Vienna: 1503. Mitgliederausstellung, curated by Georg Schöllhammer & Fanny Hauser. https://www.k-haus.at/besuch/kalender/ausstellung/403/1503.html
# Parallel Editions Vienna @SCHUMANN 3: Descartes' Brain by TIME GATES.
# Central Garden Vienna: by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank), at the festival LITTLE DONAU II . https://www.centralgarden.at/?s=time+gates+2022
# Vasarely Museum Budapest: TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank) and THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS OF A DIFFERENT COLOUR. Media art project on the large billboard in Keleti Train Station Budapest
2021
# Sonic Narratives Festival of Simultan Association Timisoara: Riverscreen Cinema by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank): https://sonicnarratives.simultan.org/
# Central Garten Vienna: by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank), LITTLE DONAU I. Riverscreen Cinema,
# Harald Bichler space and content gallery: Solo exhibition Incipit Vita Nova, Schleifmühlgasse Vienna. https://www.rauminhalt.com/ben-fodor-incipit-vita-nova
# Marcello Farabegoli Projects Vienna in cooperation with FOTO WIEN:THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS OF A DIFFERENT COLOUR. Media art project on advertising screens and billboards by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank): 4.3. - 15.4. https://www.marcello-farabegoli.net/time-gates-21 https://vimeo.com/538035842
2020
# Walden Gallery Berlin: Hommage an K. The /Doorkeeper by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank). http://www.galerie-walden.de/INFECTED%20REALITY-Dokumentation.pdf
# Walden Gallery Berlin: Nothing Except Drawings vol.6
# From Nowhere to Nowhere, Wien (curated by Claudia Schumann /Tatjana Hardikov): Photocube NO DOOR and Hommage an K./ The Doorkeeper by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank)
2019
# Art Quarter Budapest /Performance Festival: Science Fiction Vanitas, performance by TIME GATES (Ben G. Fodor & Dorothee Frank)
# MEDO artspace Vienna (curated by Hongwei Duan): group showTipping Point
# Messer Gallery Vienna: "blau...als farbe schön und wahr"
# Parallel Vienna: artist statement https://parallelvienna.com/product/ben-fodor-3/
# Vasarely Museum Budapest: "Moon Museum" curated by Marton Orosz.
# Marcello Farabegoli Projects: "Eat me" Photo novel and performance, world premiere and exhibition.@ Studio Kucsko. Matthias Loibner: composition / hurdy gurdy / electronics. Actor: Christoph Dostal. Lyrics / script: Dorothee Frank www.marcello-farabegoli.net/eat-me
2018
# Ars Electronica Linz: "Carmine"
# Belvedere 21: Performance What ist Utopia. Electro-philosophical Odysse by Fodor (images) & Frank (concept, texts) & Sillyconductor (Electronics). With the actresses / actors Gerti Drassl, Christiane von Poelnitz, Karl Markovics:https://esel.at/album/214
# Parallel Vienna: artist intervention Photocube „no door“
2017
# Rudolf Leeb gallery (ARCC): Solo exhibition Carmine, curated by Marcello Farabegoli Projects, Vienna Art Week/ http://marcello-farabegoli.net/carmine.html
# Parallel Vienna: group show Parallel und Konkordant @Parallel Vienna, curated by Marcello Farabegoli and Lucas Gehrmann
# Long art night in the factory oft the entrepreneur and collector Gerald Hanisch / Linz: installation Carmine
2016
# school of kyiv / department Vienna, curated by Georg Schöllhammer / Hedwig Saxenhuber): The Wall, installation in public space
# Ludwig Museum Budapest: light and photo installation „Carmine“
2015
# Steinbrener Dempf & Huber: "Wandzeitung" (show 'round the clock) in the display windows of the artists' studio / in Vienna's second district: "Future Skills"
# Academy of Fine Arts Vienna ("Semperdepot"): "Utopia Station": Performance with projected works, electronic music and texts, at the studio building of the Featuring Sillyconductor and Karl Menrad (acting).
# Milchhof Pavilion Berlin: Group show "U-Topia" on the occasion of the launch of "Prolog 4", magazine for drawing and text.
# Kunstsammlung Jena Germany: museum solo show "Incipit Vita Nova"
# MAK / Schindler House Los Angeles.: Panel discussion and performative book launch I.V.N.
2014
# The Barn: St. John´s College Oxford/UK in cooperation with ZKM Karlsruhe: Total Potemkin. Ben G. Fodor and Marc Adrian
# Kepes Institute Eger/Hungary: Incipit Vita Nova.
# Secession Vienna: Artist book Incipit Vita Nova (Kerber publishers Berlin), booklaunch at Secession Vienna
Q202 Vienna/Austria,Café Sperlhof: TV Screen Bets. Game for Guests
Gallery of the City of Dorog/Hungary I.V.N
2013
# ‚Zollamt’ Bad Radkersburg/Austria: Art Politics Religion Civilisation Border.
# Freitagsküche Frankfurt am Main/Germany.:Guest artist and guest cook at the
forum experimentelle architektur Vienna/Austria: "Potemkin Project".
HAECCCClastMINUTE2foggyNOVEMBERartistRESYdency@STANGLERHOF St. Kostantin
near Bozen, South Tyrol/Italy
2012
# Leopoldmuseum and Museumsquartier Vienna/Austria: Performance "Madonna Now".
# Viertelfestival Lower Austria: Artistic poster action "The Promised Train", using film stills of actors
and extras, and featuring Karl Markovics (leading actor in the Academy Award winning film (The Counterfeiters).
2011
# Leopold Museum Vienna/Austria: Ringturm. Kunst. The Vienna Insurance Group Collection.
# Minoriten Galerien Graz/Austria. "noosphere"
2010
# Ivan Gallery: Solo show "Total Potemkin" Bucharest, during Bucharest Biennial .
# Brukenthal Museum Sibiu: "Total Potemkin" — a brief introduction.
2009
# MUSA (Museum auf Abruf) Vienna/Austria: Stark bewölkt – flüchtige Erscheinungen des Himmels
(‘Overcast and Cloudy – Fleeting Appearances in the Sky’)
2008
# Photon gallery Ljubljana/Slovenia: Solo show " noosphere"
Wien Museum, Vienna/Austria: commissioned work for the exhibition Im Puls der Stadt — 2000
# Wien Museum: 200 Jahre Karlsplatz (‘Pulse of the City — 200 Years of Karlsplatz’).
# Vienna Festival Installation for the project Mitten im Achten as part of the Vienna Festival/Into the City,
# Minoriten Galerien, Graz/Austria:Vienna/Austria. Participation in the exhibition, as well as installation in the public space, as part of
the main exhibition of the steirischer herbst festival at the "Wie du mir" — Gegenbilder für transkulturelles Denken und Handeln (‘As You Me. Counterimages for
Transcultural Thinking and Action’).
# Awarded an artist’s studio by the City of Vienna.
2007
# Artist’s book noosphere: presentation at the Museum der Moderne Salzburg, among others.
Featured artist for programme media at the Salzburg Festival.
# Month of Photography Bratislava/Slovakia: Solo show "noosphere",
2006
# Kodeljevo Castle Ljubljana/Slovenia: "Props & Prostheses", Month of Photography Ljubljana
(curated by Walter Seidl).
Thomas Keller Gallery Siegen/Germany
2005
# Centro Culturale Europeo of the Fondazione Banca Carige: Genova scatti europei.
# Solo show at the Gallery of the City of Dorog/Hungary
2004
# Mücsarnok Budapest/Hungary: "The Hidden Holocaust"
2003
# Kunsthalle Vienna/Austria: "Attack" — Art and War in Media Times. (curated by Thomas Mißgagng and Gerard Matt)
# Kunst Zürich art fair/Switzerland Zugluft, exhibition of Austrian artists.
2002
# Grita Insam Gallery Vienna/Austria: Zeichen-Sprache (‘Drawing Language’),
# Peace Research Institute Schlaining/Austria: Frieden weltwärts (‘Peace Towards the World’),
(curated by Elisabeth von Samsonow and Cathrin Pichler).
# Atrium ed Arte Gallery Vienna/Austria: Solo show Wien Verschwindet (‘Vienna Disappearing’)
Publications (selection)
# Artist’s book "noosphere" (nominated for the German Photographic Book Prize). Incipit Vita Nova (Kerbrr Verlag, Berlin
Publications by the museum in progress, Camera Austria, Eikon. Photographic works for the
concept volume Mozart Spuren (‘Traces of Mozart’) in the Viennese Year of Mozart 2006.
Featured artist in the almanac of Salzburg Festival 2008
Works in Collections (selection)
# MUMOK/Stiftung Ludwig Vienna.https://www.mumok.at/de/gyula-fodor Museum of Fine Art, Budapest.
Unicredit Bank Austria. Banca Carige Genoa/Italy. Vienna
Insurance Group. Collection of the City of Vienna. Minoriten Gallery, Jenö Eisenberger collection, Thomas Griesbacher, Peter Coeln / Westlicht,
Haecccc. 0+865, Museum Jena Germany, Marius Spannbauer usw ...
The text of this page (home) is released under the Creative Commons Zero Waiver 1.0 (CC0)