Isen: For Geraldine Frisch, art is not a private matter – Erding

For many, art is a private matter, what else? Many think artists create their works out of themselves and thereby realize themselves. Some make money from it, some don’t. Art can be a profession or a hobby, which in any case also shows that it is a private matter. A third consideration in the same direction: Anyone who believes that creating art is about processing inner states arrives at a concept of art somewhere between drive and therapy – it hardly gets more private.

If you look at how Geraldine Frisch creates art, you start to ponder and then realize with astonishing clarity: Art is anything but a private matter. And because Geraldine Frisch, who lives and works in Isen, is also so convincing to the outside world in a second respect, in that her creativity keeps inventing new actions and platforms that give other artists space and public attention, she has definitely deserves a nomination for the SZ’s Tassilo Culture Prize.

The fact that Geraldine Frisch is interested in public space in more ways than one is certainly also due to the fact that she is an architect. She first studied architecture in Nuremberg and then completed an art degree there. The fact that art belongs in the middle of public life is important to her and an asset for others. she has that Isental Open Art weekend initiated, at which artists in the eastern district of Erding open their workshops to visitors every year. She has been in Isen during the pandemic the action “art attack” organized in which the municipal notice boards became art venues – whereupon an art hater intentionally destroyed the works. she has realized an art and literature competition for the 1275th anniversary of Isen, who impressed with great contributions. She also prevented the demolition of a historic building in Isen, which is now becoming a community center. She is also active as a musician and has worked with Georg Karger, Roland Biswurm and Roald Raschner as Cheraleen & The Gold Pieces recorded three albums.

Geraldine Frisch’s artistic works are very different and versatile. It’s about surfaces and colors, light and shadow, structures and movements – painted, photographed or filmed. Much seems to take place with her primarily on a formal level. But that’s just a first surface impression. Rather, her works deal with real reality, which only appears alienated by the unusual focus.

Open detailed view

Seeing the world from an unusual, curiously curious, or unpragmatic point of view doesn’t make it artificial. The real world out there remains the same, but is conveyed to the viewer of Geraldine Frisch’s objects, photographs and videos in unexpected and stimulating ways. Her art is therefore neither her private pleasure nor that of the viewer. Her art is created through cooperation, by taking a new look at reality together.

Open detailed view

In the limited reality of the corona pandemic, works were created that make it clear how strongly Geraldine Frisch relies on this type of interaction. In her series “Identity Playground” she photographed herself with various net-like fabrics over her head. The photos were then her contribution to an exhibition with the programmatic-poetic title “No human is an island” in Fürstenfeldbruck. “No man is an island” is the first line from a poem by John Donne.

Another work from the pandemic period is the video-captured performance “My Kloporona” on the green hillock of a roundabout near Oberneuching. It is one of several Dadaist spinning top performances that she publishes under the Paul McCircle name. Geraldine Frisch spontaneously drove off with her dog and countless toilet paper rolls to act publicly in the middle of the toughest lockdown in the middle of a roundabout – the most absurd kind of public space. You see her reading the newspaper, playing with the dog, lying in the sun, rolling long toilet paper snakes in the green grass. Can you do that?

Of course, but you have to have the courage to do it, like Geraldine Frisch, who has often had to deal with strong headwinds. Because she doesn’t see art as a private matter, but as part of real and communal life, doesn’t suit everyone.

We will present candidates for the Tassilo Culture Prize 2023 by mid-February. You can find all the nominees below sz.de/tassilo.