# John Bock

John Bock (born 1965 in Schenefeld, Germany) is a German artist. He studied in Hamburg, Germany and lives and works in Berlin.

## Work

Bock is a multi-media artist primarily known for his performances. Since 1991, he creates environments hand crafted from found materials which function as symbolic settings for his "lectures." More recently there has been an increased production of film and video work.
In his "lectures", Bock acts on "stages" built from tables, cupboards or multi-level wood constructions. The objects are handmade or re-modeled accessories of the lecture, made out of clothing, electrical equipment such as hoovers and mixers, or "plastic diagrams" that illustrate his mathematical explanations. After the lecture, they are left on the stage which thus forms a "theatrical collage". The "lectures" are structured by different scenes in which Bock sometimes works with (non-professional) actors; frequently he plays pop songs or classical pieces from a record player. The lecture is mostly recorded on video. The film is then integrated in the installation, documenting the lecture throughout the exhibition.
Bock has been professor for sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts of Karlsruhe since 2004.

## Exhibitions

Bock participated in numerous international exhibitions, among others the Venice Biennial (1999 and 2005) and the documenta 11 in Kassel (2002). He has also had solo exhibitions in a number of international institutions including MoMA and the New Museum in New York, Kunst-Werke Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, Kunsthalle in Basel, Secession, Wien, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.
He has participated in various group shows including Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art, Barbican Centre, London, and "Laughing in a Foreign Language", The Hayward Gallery, London, both in 2008. John Bock: Maltreated Frigate, a monograph of his work, was published by Walther Koenig Ltd, 2007.
Bock is represented by Galerie Klosterfelde, Berlin, Anton Kern Gallery, New York, and Regen Projects, Los Angeles.

### Selected exhibitions

Source:

### Germany

| City | Venue | Type | Collection/Installation | Year(s) |
| Berlin | Staatsoper unter den Linden | Individual | John Bock’s Medusa im Tam Tam Club | 2006 |
| Berlin | Deutsche Guggenheim | | Kunst und Papier auf dem Laufsteg [Art and paper on the catwalk] | 1998 |
| Berlin | Element | | Am Tüddelband der Liebeselastizität | 1997 |
| Berlin | Gagosian Gallery | Collective | The Addiction | 2005 |
| Berlin | Haus der Kulturen der Welt | Individual | The greased bendsteering in the luggage gets tangled up with the white shirt (German: Die abgeschmierte Knicklenkung im Gepäck verheddert sich im weissen Hemd) | 2009 |
| Berlin | Haus am Waldsee | Collective | Anstoss Berlin, Kunst Macht Welt | 2006 |
| Berlin | Klosterfelde Edition | | Das Gängelband der Kunstwohlfahrt | 1997 |
| Berlin | Klosterfelde Gallery | Individual | ArtemisiaSogJod – Meechwimper Lummerig | 2000 |
| Berlin | Klosterfelde Gallery | Individual | John Bock: Lütte mit Rucola, Klosterfelde | 2006 |
| Berlin | Klosterfelde Gallery | Individual | OHR-WALACHEI | 2011 |
| Berlin | Kraftwerk Berlin | Individual | Paramoderne = Rokokkogobrot | 1999 |
| Berlin | KW Institute for Contemporary Art | Collective | Berlin Biennal | 1999 |
| Berlin | Schinkel Pavillon | | | 2011 |
| Berlin | Sprüth Magers | Individual | 1 = 2 + Kleinodtod | 2000 |
| Berlin | Temporäre Kunsthalle | Individual | FischGrätenMelkStand | 2010 |
| Berlin | | Collective | Berlin Biennale (LiquiditätsAuraAromaPortfolio) | 1998 |
| Bonn | Bonner Kunstverein | Individual | Im Dilemma der ExistoEntropie | 2001 |
| Bonn | Kunstmuseum Bonn | Collective | Zeitwenden – Rückblick & Audblick | 1999 |
| Bonn | Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland | Individual | Im Modder der Summenmutation | 2013 |
| Bremen | Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst | Individual | | 2000 |
| Cologne | Austellungsraum Schnitt | | | 1999 |
| Frankfurt | | | Die Dreckschleuder | 1996 |
| Freiburg im Breisgau | Kunstverein Freiburg | | Koppel op Kop. ars viva 1999-2000 | 1999 |
| Freiburg im Breisgau | Museum für Neue Kunst | Collective | Works from the Boros Collection | 2004 |
| Hamburg | Das Trojanische Schiff | | Der Fremde in der 4. Etag | 1995 |
| Hamburg | Friedensallee 12 | | Das Kunstwerk des 21. Jahrhunderts | 1995 |
| Hamburg | Friedensallee 12 | | Komparativer Kunstfähigkeitsvorteil | 1993 |
| Hamburg | Golden Pudel Club | | Mord und Robotermalerei | 1992 |
| Hamburg | Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwartskunst | Individual | PestKOP im black rebel motorcycle club | 2005 |
| Hamburg | Helga Maria Klosterfelde | | Meechfieber im Paradoxonmodderkarton | 1998 |
| Hamburg | Klosterfelde Gallery | Individual | Ma’am prosciutto crudo | 2001 |
| Hamburg | Kunsthaus Hamburg | | Kunstkarton | 1994 |
| Hamburg | Kunstverein in Hamburg | Individual | Der Pappenheimer | 2013 |
| Hamburg | KX. Kunst auf Kampnagel | | Rasputin ist Mütterchen | 1997 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | 4 x Rezipientenmodelle | 1993 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Das Feld | 1995 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Der kleine Rezipient und der grosse Rezipient | 1993 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Die dynamische Nacht des Titerus | 1996 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Die Kunstwohlfahrtsmaschine | 1993 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Die molekulare Heimsuchung des Herrn 0,47 | 1997 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Elephant | 1993 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Gribbohm | 1996 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Haschkeks | 1993 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Heilung Nr. 4 | 1994 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Jackson - Action | 1992 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Kunst – Mädchen – Erfolg – Tod | 1992 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Paul Eluard Gesichtskorrektur | 1992 |
| Hamburg | University of Fine Arts of Hamburg | | Wie werde ich breühmt? | 1992 |
| Hamburg | Westwerk | | Törtchen der Leidenschaft | 1994 |
| Hanover | Expo 2000 | Collective | Captain Sheriff Schippert Dröge | 2000 |
| Hanover | Kunstverein Hanover | | home and away | 1999 |
| Hanover | Sprengel Museum | Individual | Dionysische Monologicus – Gelüste eines Schwachomate | 2000-2001 |
| Heidelberg | Heidelberger Kunstverein | Collective | Artists as Collectors | 2007 |
| Karlsruhe | Laurids & Mattheus | | BommelbabyfaceNelson | 1998 |
| Leverkusen | Morsbroich Museum | Collective | Freestyle: Werke aus der Sammlung Boros | 2001 |
| Munich | Haus der Kunst | Collective | “Aller Anfang ist Merz – von Kurt Schwitters bis heute” | 2001 |
| Munich | Neuer Marstall | Individual | Rasputin ist Mütterchel | 1999 |
| Wolfsburg | Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg | Collective | German Open : Gegenwartskunst in Deutschland | 1999 |

#### Europe

| Country | City | Venue | Type | Collection/Installation | Year(s) |
| Austria | Bregenz | | | Quasi-ich-isoquantenschar-Kammer | 1999 |
| Austria | Graz | Grazer Stadtraum | Collective | RE_public | 2000 |
| Austria | Graz | Steirischer Herbst | | Von der Kunst bis zum Warten + drinnen Jungtiere | 1999 |
| Austria | Innsbruck | Kunstraum Innsbruck | Collective | Soufflé, eine Massenausstellung | 2007 |
| Austria | Linz | OK Center for Contemporary Art Austria | Individual | Ma’am prosciutto crud | 2000 |
| Austria | Mönchengladbach | Abteiberg Museum | | Regardez le Diskjockey Long John Silver “El Niño” | 1998 |
| Austria | Offenbach am Main | Klingspor Museum | | Silageproppen verstopft den Streptopenfluss im Love-Time-Mluiplikator | 1998 |
| Austria | Schwaz | Galerie der Stadt Schwaz | | $ 1.000.000 Knödel Kisses, pfüti | 1999 |
| Austria | Vienna | | | MienGribbohmWien | 1998 |
| Austria | Vienna | Charim Galerie | Collective | SoonSonicShySONSupernovaSide UP | 1999 |
| Austria | Vienna | Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien | Collective | Zeitwenden - Rückblick und Ausblick | 2000 |
| Belgium | Antwerp | Der heilige Anwalt in Antwerpen | | Lokaal 05 | 1996 |
| Belgium | Antwerp | Stella Lohaus Gallery | Individual | A-Buba | 2005 |
| Belgium | Antwerp | Stella Lohaus Gallery | | Yes Sir No Sir | 1999 |
| Belgium | Ghent | Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst | Collective | Memme muss schlafen opening exhibition of S.M.A.K. | 1999 |
| Belgium | Maastricht | | | Der Onkel im Koffer | 1996 |
| Denmark | Aarhus | ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum | | | 1999 |
| Denmark | Copenhagen | Jacob Fabricius | Collective | "New Settlements" | 2000-2001 |
| England | London | Barbican Centre | Individual | Curve-Vehicle incl. π-Man-(.), The Curve | 2010 |
| England | London | Barbican Centre | Collective | Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art | 2008 |
| England | London | Hayward Gallery | Collective | Laughing in a Foreign Language | 2008 |
| England | London | Institute of Contemporary Arts | Individual | Klutterkammer | 2004 |
| England | London | Program | Collective | Rough Diamond | 2005 |
| England | London | RCA Galleries | Individual | MEECHbuildings – “playing among the ruins” |
| England | London | Sadie Coles HQ | Individual | John Bock | 2007 |
| England | London | Sadie Coles HQ | Individual | John Bock | 2001 |
| France | Lyon | | Collective | 8th Biennale d'art contemporain de Lyon | 2005 |
| France | Marseille | FRAC Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur | Individual | John Bock | 2005 |
| France | Paris | Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain | Collective | Dionysiac | 2005 |
| Greece | Athens | Eleni Koroneou Gallery | Individual | No Time No Screws | 2009 |
| Greece | Athens | Eleni Koroneou Gallery | Collective | The Harder You Look | 2007 |
| Greece | Athens | Eleni Koroneou Gallery | | | 2001 |
| Greece | Athens | Eleni Koroneou Gallery | Individual | Regardez le Diskjockey Long John Silver | 1999 |
| Greece | Athens | Technopolis | | Nai Aristoteles Ochi – Nichtsabsolut | 1999 |
| Greece | Athens | Mikrokosmos Cinema | Individual | Film Retrospective | 2008 |
| Iceland | Reykjavík | Kling og Bang | Individual | Skipholt | 2005 |
| Iceland | Reykjavík | Reykjavik Art Museum | Collective | Reykjavík Arts Festival | 2005 |
| Ireland | Cork | Lewis Glucksman Gallery | Collective | Beyond the Country | 2007 |
| Italy | Milan | Gió Marconi Gallery | Individual | Inside Beyond | 2008 |
| Italy | Milan | Gió Marconi Gallery | Individual | John Bock | 2003 |
| Italy | Milan | Gió Marconi Gallery | | opt. APE trouvé Moving 50 Diagram | 1999 |
| Italy | Milan | Nicola Trussardi Foundation | Individual | John Bock | 2004 |
| Italy | Milan | Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea | Collective | LA FORMA DEL MONDO/LA FINE DEL MONDO | 2000 |
| Italy | Siena | Palazzo Piccolomini | Individual | MultiplexQuasiSiena – “le repubbliche dell’ arte germania” | 2001 |
| Italy | Siena | Centro d’Arte Contemporanea | | | 2001 |
| Italy | Venice | | Collective | International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia | 2013 |
| Italy | Venice | | Collective | Venice Biennale | 2005 |
| Italy | Venice | | Collective | 48th Venice Biennale | 1999 |
| Luxembourg | Casino Luxembourg | | | Existo – Tour 99 “ars viva – Gernzgänge” | 1999 |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | Netherlands Media Art Institute | Collective | (……) – Surrogat | 2006 |
| Scotland | Edinburgh | Fruitmarket Gallery | Collective | Dada's Boys | 2006 |
| Spain | Málaga | Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga | Individual | Nöle | 2010 |
| Spain | San Sebastián | European Biennial of Contemporary Art | Collective | Manifesta 5 | 2004 |
| Sweden | Malmö | Malmö Konsthall | Collective | The Hamsterwheel | 2008 |
| Switzerland | Basel | Klosterfelde | | MolkeMeMindVehikle | 1999 |
| Switzerland | Basel | Kunsthalle Basel | Individual | Lombardi Bängli | 1999 |

### Americas

| Country | City | Venue | Type | Collection/Installation | Year(s) |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Jumex Foundation | | Lost-Egg in the Desert | 2011 |
| United States | Los Angeles | | Collective | The High Desert Test Sites (Palms) | 2007 |
| United States | Los Angeles | REDCAT | Individual | Palms | 2008 |
| United States | Los Angeles | Regen Projects | Individual | John Bock | 2007 |
| United States | Los Angeles | Regen Projects | Individual | Lichterloh / roh | 2011 |
| United States | Miami | The Moore Loft | | Zero Hero | 2006 |
| United States | New York City | Anton Kern Gallery | | Bendix Harms Lebenslieben | 2008 |
| United States | New York City | Anton Kern Gallery | Individual | John Bock | 2010 |
| United States | New York City | Anton Kern Gallery | Individual | John Bock – Mit Schisslaveng | 2006 |
| United States | New York City | Anton Kern Gallery | | Maybe-Me-Be-Microworld | 1999 |
| United States | New York City | Barneys, Madison Avenue | Collective | Into the Quasi-Me-Hill | 2012 |
| United States | New York City | Gagosian Gallery | Collective | Fit to Print: printed media in recent collage | 2007 |
| United States | New York City | Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation | Collective | Hugo Boss Prize | 2006 |
| United States | New York City | Museum of Modern Art | Individual | Multiple Quasi-Maybe-Me-Be-Updown (fashion show) | 2000 |
| United States | New York City | PS1 | | MolkeMeHindVehikel “Children of Berlin” | 1999 |
| United States | New York City | Nyehaus | | Abnormal | 2005 |
| United States | New York City | Zwirner & Wirth | Collective | Girls on Film | 2005 |
| United States | New York City | Water Mill | The Watermill Center | Lecker Puste (Delicious Breath) | 2012 |

### Asia + Oceania

| Country | City | Venue | Type | Collection/Installation | Year(s) |
| New Zealand | Auckland | | | Pizza Kiwi Nazionale | 2000 |
| South Korea | Seoul | Insa Art Space | | | 2008 |

## Lectures

* 2000: Four Lectures, Museum of Modern Art, New York
** “Aller Anfang ist Merz – von Kurt Schwitters bis heute”, Sprengel Museum, Hannover, Germany, 6 June
** Gribbohm meets Mini-Max society, (lecture 4, MoMA N.Y.C.)
** thread waxing space, “death race”, Brooklyn, Dec.
* 2009: Lecture / Fashion Show The greased bendsteering in the luggage gets tangled up with the white shirt (in German: Die abgeschmierte Knicklenkung im Gepäck verheddert sich im weissen Hemd) at HKW, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany