Volume VII – Veronika Hilger & Jana Baumann
Volume VII – Veronika Hilger & Jana Baumann

December 2022

Veronika Hilger in conversation with Jana Baumann in her studio in Munich.

Volume VII – Veronika Hilger & Jana Baumann

Sperling

all artists

Malte Zenses

With ironic nonchalance, Malte Zenses’ (*1987) paintings and sculptures expand the vocabulary of abstract painting and new realism by pointedly integrating the zeitgeist of his generation through autobiographical fragments. His inspiration often begins with a memory, a place or a snapshot. Disguising the personal references, he uses his own set of abstract codes made up of personal symbols, signs and lyrics. Rather than implementing his own story through known codes, he educes the viewers own memories while capturing the spirit of our ceaseless journey between the digital and the analogue. Through this play of codes and tones, words and signs, Malte Zenses develops his own visual language and aesthetic. Formalistically not bound by materiality or media, he constantly relates between different places and harmonizes the personal and impersonal. His artistic practice can therefore also be described as an appropriation, translation and recycling of experienced reality.

Works

Malte Zenses, Vorwärts, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 60 × 80 cm

Malte Zenses, Vorwärts, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 60 × 80 cm

Malte Zenses, Fetztage in der Villa, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 60 × 80 cm

Malte Zenses, Fetztage in der Villa, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 60 × 80 cm

Malte Zenses, call me back, 2023, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 × 100 cm

Malte Zenses, call me back, 2023, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 × 100 cm

Malte Zenses, Birkenwald in Wilhelmsruh, 2023, Charcoal, paper, and acrylic on canvas, white glazed maple wood floater frame, 150 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Birkenwald in Wilhelmsruh, 2023, Charcoal, paper, and acrylic on canvas, white glazed maple wood floater frame, 150 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Mond mit Birkenwald, 2023, Charcoal, oil, and acrylic on canvas, white glazed maple wood floater frame, 150 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Mond mit Birkenwald, 2023, Charcoal, oil, and acrylic on canvas, white glazed maple wood floater frame, 150 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Tell them I said no, 2023, Second-hand clothes, epoxy, and gipsum, 100 × 60 × 60 cm

Malte Zenses, Tell them I said no, 2023, Second-hand clothes, epoxy, and gipsum, 100 × 60 × 60 cm

Malte Zenses, Eher geht ein Kamel, 2023, Second-hand clothes, rubber gloves, and epoxy, 120 × 15 × 15 cm

Malte Zenses, Eher geht ein Kamel, 2023, Second-hand clothes, rubber gloves, and epoxy, 120 × 15 × 15 cm

Malte Zenses, Wiedersehen nach langer Zeit, 2022, Silkscreen print on canvas, floater frame, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Wiedersehen nach langer Zeit, 2022, Silkscreen print on canvas, floater frame, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, irgendwann checkst du nix mehr, 2022, silkscreen print, pastel and oil on canvas, floater frame, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, irgendwann checkst du nix mehr, 2022, silkscreen print, pastel and oil on canvas, floater frame, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Campbell als Saturn, 2022, Silkscreen print on canvas, floater frame, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Campbell als Saturn, 2022, Silkscreen print on canvas, floater frame, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, - Uh... [inhales sharply] - Okay, 2023, Oil on canvas, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, - Uh... [inhales sharply] - Okay, 2023, Oil on canvas, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, [crying] - Hey, Kate, 2023, Oil on canvas, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, [crying] - Hey, Kate, 2023, Oil on canvas, 150 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Hi big brother. How’s your ass?, 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, floater frame, 80 x 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Hi big brother. How’s your ass?, 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, floater frame, 80 x 120 cm

Malte Zenses, My God, it's almost dark., 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 150 x 130 cm

Malte Zenses, My God, it's almost dark., 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 150 x 130 cm

Malte Zenses, How much?, 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 x 120 cm

Malte Zenses, How much?, 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 x 120 cm

Malte Zenses, This is really beautiful, man. You have to realize the turnabout..., 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 x 120 cm

Malte Zenses, This is really beautiful, man. You have to realize the turnabout..., 2022, oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 x 120 cm

it was beautiful schön wars #1 – #4, each 130 × 100 cm, oil, oil-stick and paper (inkjet-print) on canvas, 2021

it was beautiful schön wars #1 – #4, each 130 × 100 cm, oil, oil-stick and paper (inkjet-print) on canvas, 2021

it was beautiful schön wars #1

it was beautiful schön wars #1

Karin und Heike, Brunch im Freien #1 – #4, 130 × 100 cm, 240 × 30 cm and 250 × 50 cm (fabric), Powder coated steel and fabric on wooden frame, 2021

Karin und Heike, Brunch im Freien #1 – #4, 130 × 100 cm, 240 × 30 cm and 250 × 50 cm (fabric), Powder coated steel and fabric on wooden frame, 2021

Karin und Heike, Brunch im Freien #1, 130 × 100 cm, 240 × 30 cm (fabric), powder coated steel and fabric on wooden frame, 2021

Karin und Heike, Brunch im Freien #1, 130 × 100 cm, 240 × 30 cm (fabric), powder coated steel and fabric on wooden frame, 2021

Malte Zenses, Fragment einer Architektur #2, 2020, steel and concrete, 160 × 90 cm

Malte Zenses, Fragment einer Architektur #2, 2020, steel and concrete, 160 × 90 cm

Malte Zenses, Flussdelta und Omega, 2020, laquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Flussdelta und Omega, 2020, laquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Du und Ich, sehr müde #2, 2020, second-Hand Garments, 300 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Du und Ich, sehr müde #2, 2020, second-Hand Garments, 300 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, ciao bebe, let`s meet in Gerswalde *goodbyekiss*, 2020, lacquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, ciao bebe, let`s meet in Gerswalde *goodbyekiss*, 2020, lacquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Brennender Apfelbaum vor einer Mauer, 2020, lacquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Brennender Apfelbaum vor einer Mauer, 2020, lacquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, schnelle Zeichnung von einer schönen, Hausfassade (Prenzlauer Berg), 2020, lacquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, schnelle Zeichnung von einer schönen, Hausfassade (Prenzlauer Berg), 2020, lacquer and oil on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Feuer #3, 2020, lacquer and tempera on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Feuer #3, 2020, lacquer and tempera on canvas, 100 × 130 cm

Malte Zenses, Orgelblut II, 2019, oil and pencil on canvas, opal glass and maple wood, 166 × 126,5 cm

Malte Zenses, Orgelblut II, 2019, oil and pencil on canvas, opal glass and maple wood, 166 × 126,5 cm

Malte Zenses, Mit Karin im Golf, 2019, oil and pencil on canvas, 160 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, Mit Karin im Golf, 2019, oil and pencil on canvas, 160 × 120 cm

Malte Zenses, pearl, 2018, lacquer, pencil and dirt on canvas, wood, 130 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, pearl, 2018, lacquer, pencil and dirt on canvas, wood, 130 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, boy, 2018, lacquer, pencil and oil on canvas, wood, 130 × 220 cm

Malte Zenses, boy, 2018, lacquer, pencil and oil on canvas, wood, 130 × 220 cm

Malte Zenses, The Body, 2018, massagepad, steel and walnut wood, approx. 40 × 220 × 20 cm

Malte Zenses, The Body, 2018, massagepad, steel and walnut wood, approx. 40 × 220 × 20 cm

Malte Zenses, The Body, 2018, massagepad, steel and walnut wood, approx. 40 × 220 × 20 cm

Malte Zenses, The Body, 2018, massagepad, steel and walnut wood, approx. 40 × 220 × 20 cm

Malte Zenses, pearl, 2018, lacquer, pencil and dirt on canvas, wood, 130 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, pearl, 2018, lacquer, pencil and dirt on canvas, wood, 130 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, girl, 2018, lacquer, pencil and dirt on canvas, wood, 130 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, girl, 2018, lacquer, pencil and dirt on canvas, wood, 130 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, Ich bin nicht Adam aber Eva du fehlst, 2017, lacquer and oil on canvas, 180 × 230 cm

Malte Zenses, Ich bin nicht Adam aber Eva du fehlst, 2017, lacquer and oil on canvas, 180 × 230 cm

Malte Zenses, unrasiert, 2017, steel, polyester resin, 140 × 200 × 25 cm

Malte Zenses, unrasiert, 2017, steel, polyester resin, 140 × 200 × 25 cm

Malte Zenses, blu, solemio, 2017, lacquer and oil on canvas and steel, 130 × 120 × 2 cm

Malte Zenses, blu, solemio, 2017, lacquer and oil on canvas and steel, 130 × 120 × 2 cm

Malte Zenses, les, nah, rac, 2017, coal, pencil, lacquer and oil on canvas, wood, 2 × 123 × 103 cm

Malte Zenses, les, nah, rac, 2017, coal, pencil, lacquer and oil on canvas, wood, 2 × 123 × 103 cm

Malte Zenses, Zu weit fort Teil 1, 2017, lacquer and oil on canvas, 140 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, Zu weit fort Teil 1, 2017, lacquer and oil on canvas, 140 × 160 cm

Malte Zenses, die Schwimmer, but she seems fine, 2017, silkscreen, lacquer and charcoal on canvas, 190 × 170 × 3 cm

Malte Zenses, die Schwimmer, but she seems fine, 2017, silkscreen, lacquer and charcoal on canvas, 190 × 170 × 3 cm

Malte Zenses, beim Spazieren in München, 2017, lacquer and gouache on canvas, 130 × 180 cm

Malte Zenses, beim Spazieren in München, 2017, lacquer and gouache on canvas, 130 × 180 cm

Malte Zenses, fare well mario, 2017, Reebok with door stop, 20 × 10 × 10 cm

Malte Zenses, fare well mario, 2017, Reebok with door stop, 20 × 10 × 10 cm

Malte Zenses, nackt, 2017, UV-print, walnut frame with opalglass, 65 × 72 cm

Malte Zenses, nackt, 2017, UV-print, walnut frame with opalglass, 65 × 72 cm

Malte Zenses, weiches Marmor, 2017, ceramics and neon light, 6 × 4 × 50 cm

Malte Zenses, weiches Marmor, 2017, ceramics and neon light, 6 × 4 × 50 cm

Malte Zenses, true blue, komm jetzt, 2017, oilcloth and cushion on wood, 140 × 200 × XX cm

Malte Zenses, true blue, komm jetzt, 2017, oilcloth and cushion on wood, 140 × 200 × XX cm

Malte Zenses, Wasserstunden, cool (Zu weit fort Teil II), 2017, lacquer and paper towel on canvas, 150 × 180 cm

Malte Zenses, Wasserstunden, cool (Zu weit fort Teil II), 2017, lacquer and paper towel on canvas, 150 × 180 cm

Exhibitions

Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Teil II, JVDW, Düsseldorf 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Teil II, JVDW, Düsseldorf 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Teil II, JVDW, Düsseldorf 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Teil II, JVDW, Düsseldorf 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Teil II, JVDW, Düsseldorf 2023

Im Kugelblitz, Teil II, JVDW, Düsseldorf 2023

Im Regio 3, totale Verwirrung, Sperling, Munich, DE 2020

Im Regio 3, totale Verwirrung, Sperling, Munich, DE 2020

Im Regio 3, totale Verwirrung, Sperling, Munich, DE 2020

Im Regio 3, totale Verwirrung, Sperling, Munich, DE 2020

Unlust Prinzip, Kasseler Kunstverein, Kassel, DE 2018

Unlust Prinzip, Kasseler Kunstverein, Kassel, DE 2018

Unlust Prinzip, Kasseler Kunstverein, Kassel, DE 2018

Unlust Prinzip, Kasseler Kunstverein, Kassel, DE 2018

Have you ever heard about der Traum ist aus, Damien & The Love Guru, Brussels, BE 2018

Have you ever heard about der Traum ist aus, Damien & The Love Guru, Brussels, BE 2018

Have you ever heard about der Traum ist aus, Damien & The Love Guru, Brussels, BE 2018

Have you ever heard about der Traum ist aus, Damien & The Love Guru, Brussels, BE 2018

Have you ever heard about der Traum ist aus, Damien & The Love Guru, Brussels, BE 2018

Have you ever heard about der Traum ist aus, Damien & The Love Guru, Brussels, BE 2018

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

In Tyrannis, curated by Judith Grobe, Kunstverein Nürnberg, Nürnberg, DE 2017

Selected Solo Exhibitions

    2023

    • Im Kugelblitz, Kunstverein Heppenheim, DE

    2020

    • Im Regio 3, totale Verwirrung, Sperling, Munich, DE

    2017

    • IN TYRANNIS, Kunstverein Nuremberg, DE

Selected Group Exhibitions

    2018

    • UNLUST PRINZIP, Kasseler Kunstverein, DE
    • High Ends, Nassauischer Kunstverein, Wiesbaden, DE

Publications

Press

Patrizia Dander in conversation with Malte Zenses (german)