PETER FUNCH
Born 1974, Denmark. Lives and works in New York City
EDUCATION
Photojournalist from the Danish School of Journalism in Denmark
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011
BABEL TALES REDUX, V1 Gallery, New York.
BABEL TALES & BOOK LAUNCH, Invisible Export, New York.
2010
BABEL TALES, Colette, Paris.
BABEL TALES - Addendum, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
DANISH DIARIES, The Danish Pavilion, World Expo Shanghai, with Jeppe Hein & Martin de Thurah, China
2009
Amsterdam Stories, Dream Amsterdam, Mseumsplein,The Netherlands.
Babel Tales & Amsterdam Stories, Ron Mandos Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2008
The Eye of the Beholder, A Solo Project at Voltashow Art Fair, New York, USA
2007
Patent & Varemærkestyrelsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Babel Tales, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003
Las Vegas - Made by Man, Gallery Kling & Bang, Reykjavik, Iceland
Las Vegas - Made by Man, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012
Tonight We Won’t Be Bored, V1 Gallery X Anniversary, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
PARATY EM FOCO International Photo Festival, Paraty, Brazil
Continental Drift, Volta8 Basel, Switzerland
Paper Match, Halmlageret/Carlsberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Terra Cognita - Photofestival Noorderlicht, Museum Belvédère, Heerenveen/Oranjewoud, The Netherlands
An Øje at the Hole, The Hole NYC, New York, USA
Hello Materials, Danish design Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mods vs Rockers, Brooklyn Edition Curated by Vincent Szarek, The Essential Collection & V1 Gallery
2011
MYTER OM DEN NAERE FREMTID - NY DANSK FOTOGRAFI, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen.
14 Oct. - 20 Nov. 2011
THE EYE IS A LONELY HUNTER: IMAGES OF HUMANKIND
4. Fotofestival Mannheim Ludwigshafen Heidelberg, 2011
ROLE AND RITUAL, Kunsthalle Mannheim.
THE PRACTICE OF EVERYDAY LIFE, Kunstverein Ludwigshafen.
10 Sept – 06 Nov 2011
LIVING Frontiers of Architecture III and IV
1 June - 2 Oct. 2011 at LOUISIANA DENMARK
Gallery Contemporanea, Granada, Spain.
WHAT’S HE BUILDING IN THERE?- An ode to the darker side of curiosity. Curated by Jesper Elg & Mikkel Grønnebæk. FUSE Gallery, New York.
Status - Somewhere between position and condition, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen.
2010
NEW WORK NEW YORK Tiny vices, New York
Copenhagen Photo Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
OneShot, Allmänna Galleriet 925, Stockholm, Sweeden (group)
2009
OneShot, Werkstette Copenhagen
2008
The Destruction of Atlantis, Union Gallery, London, UK
Fogtdals Fotografpriser 2008, Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Charlotte Fogh Contemporary, Aarhus, Denmark
2007
Spitting Image, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006
DNA (Diesel New Art), Winners exhibited in Denmark, Sweden and Norway
There is a U in Us, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
Random Happenings, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Face to Face - New Portraits, Lumas, Berlin, Germany
2004
A Celebration of Rebellion, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003
Foam Photography Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2001
On Contempo, Kunsthallen, Copenhagen, followed in Zing Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
EinZweiDrei.com in Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen with the project Crossin Red Town Crossing Red Town,
Arles Photo Festival, France Crossing Red Town, Gallerie d'Essai, France
ART FAIRS
2012
Armory, New York, USA.
2010
Volta6 Basel, Switzerland, Art Copenhagen, Denmark.
2009
Art Copenhagen, Denmark, Volta5 Basel, Switzerland, ArtBrussels, Brussels, Belgium
2008
Art Copenhagen, Denmark Voltashow Basel, Switzerland Voltashow, The Eye of the Beholder, a Solo Project Art Fair, New York, USA
2007
Zoo Art Fair London, UK Art Copenhagen, Denmark Preview Berlin, Germany Voltashow Basel, Switzerland
2006
Preview Berlin, Germany Art Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
Art Copenhagen, Denmark
2004
Art Copenhagen, Denmark
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2008
Palle Fogtdals Photo Award, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006
New Photographers 2007, curated by Lewis Blackwell Winner of Diesel New Art in the Photo category
2003
Student at the 10th annual World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Finalist at SXSW Web Awards
2002
1st prize from Danish School of Journalism with portraits from World Trade Center, Aarhus, Denmark
2001
1st prize, Best in open Class in Danish Press Photo of the year, with the portraits from World Trade Center Crossing Red Town, awarded at the Arles Photo Festival, France
2000
1st prize in best photojournalist project of the year, from The Danish School of Journalism Awarded in open class for the project Crossing Red Town, in Press Photo of the Year
1999
1st prize, Best Daily Picture in Danish Press Photo of The Year
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS / INTERVIEWS / REVIEWS
2011
The New Yorker 26.10.11 Babel Tales Redux exhibition review
TIME.com 21.09.11 Interview and exhibition feature
The New Yorker 12.09.11 Babel Tales Redux ehibition write up
The Eye is a Lonely Hunter: Images of Humankind, 4. Fotofestival Mannheim Ludwigshafen Heidelberg. Published by Kehrer. ISBN 978-3-86828-240-5
LIVING: Frontiers of Architecture III-IV, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Page 186. ISBN 987-87-91607-93-6
New York: A Photographer's City. Edited by Marla Hamburg Kennedy and published by Rizzoli.
ISBN: 978-0-8478-3584-3
2010
Ny Dansk Kunst 2010. Published by Kopenhagen Art in corporation with Shooting Gallery Press. ISBN: 978-87-91819-06-3
The book Babel Tales with 41 images is published. ISBN 978-87-993833-0-6
90 pages with 41 color photos
Juxtapoz Magazine, Interview, issue 113, 12 pages
www.kopenhagen.dk Newsletter no514 Interview 06.05.10
Street photography Now published by Thames and Hudson. Edited by Sophie Howarth and Stephen McLaren. ISBN-13: 978-0500543931
Photography and the USA, published in the Exposures series
(editors Mark Haworth-Booth and Peter Hamilton) by Reaktion
Books, London. Will be published Autumn 2010
2009
Art World Magazine Issue 11, 4 pages
It's nice that Magazine Issue 2, 8 pages
Wired Magazine UK "Perfect Timing is an art' 2 pages
VPRO Dutch magazine Cover DeTelegraaf Interview “Foto’s Peter Funch op derde Dream Amsterdam – Het ballet van Fietsen” 1 and 4 page DeVolkskrant debate “collectiet stadsgedrag” 1 page Bright.nl “Straatbeeld” Juni-july issue 2 pages
Time out Amsterdam July “The hot seat” Interview 1 page
NRC NEXT “Levens die elkaar kort kruisen” interview 2 pages
NRC Handelsbladet Culture “Op Zoek naar de kleine afwijking” Interview Cover and 2 pages Hetparool Kunst og Media “Spelen met de Amsterdamse werkelijkheid” 2 pages
Adformatie “De waarheid van Peter Funch” august issue 3 pages
MS Berlingske “Hvad Øjet ser” 2 pages
2008
Next Level Edition 14 White Issue 6 Pages
Politiken Magasinet, 6 pages
Art World Review Exhibitions Armory Tweak p. 123
10 Paper - London, UK
2007
Berlinske Tidende 12.04.07 review by Torben Weirup Politiken 06.04.07 2 pages and cover on culture section
2006
British Journal of Photography, New Photographers 2007, 6 pages The Independent 26.06.06, New Photographers 2007, 6 pages
2005
Represented in web design portfolio by Taschen British Journal of Photography 6 pages and coverstory
2004
Leica photograpie International #4, 3 pages
1999
Released the book Et Andet Sted Hen for HT (Hovedstadens trafikselskab) with Uffe Larsen as text writer
COLLECTIONS
West Collection US, The National Photo museum/The Royal Library, Denmark, Statoil Art Collection No, Nykredit Collection DK, Jens-Peter Brask Collection DK, The Drake Family Collection NL,
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EDITORIAL WORK
The New Yorker, New York Times Magazine, V Magazine, New York Magazine, Next Level, Adbuster, Neon, Big Magazine, Intersection Magazine, Kilimanjaro Magazine, S Magazine
© PETER FUNCH 2012
ALL THE IMAGES AND TEXTS ON THIS WEBSITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED OR REPUBLISHED ON ANOTHER WEBSITE OR ANY OTHER SUPPORT WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM PETER FUNCH.
Thank you !
About Peter Funch
References to Peter Funch’s work in art history and contemporary art are many and varied
depending on how you approach Peter’s work. Firstly the obvious references: the work of
artist and photojournalist Henri Cartier –Bresson, the “inventor” of street photography, Robert
Frank’s sceptical outsider perspective on American Society and Bernd and Hilla Becher’s
meticulous
examination of differences and similarities of industrial buildings and surfaces. Another
reference point could be the work of Sebastiáo Salgado who as a reference to Robert Frank’s,
“The Americans” created “Other Americas” where he delves into his subjects, often the
workers of less developed nations, and resurfaces with heavy photo documents.
From a different angle Funch’s work can be compared to that of Belgian painter Magritte’s
juxtaposition of ordinary objects in an unusual context. Magritte’s works also revolve around a
certain form of repetition, the study of the citizen. In American artist Edward Hopper’s
paintings we find the same solitude and isolation in public spaces that often run through
Funch’s works.
We are alone together. The fascination for the mundane, which elevates the mundane to the
spectacular, is also a shared interest for both artists. On a literary level contemporary writer
Paul Auster’s cunning tales from America inspire Peter Funch. Auster’s tales are very close to
the surface of the real, but often break off into a world of planned coincidences, that take the
reader half or full circle, very much like Peter’s images. It’s hard to avoid Baudelaire’s
description of the flâneur when one considers Funch’s work. The flâneur, as seen by
Baudelaire, plays a key role in understanding, portraying and participating in city life, while
remaining a detached observer.
In a more contemporary landscape Andreas Gursky’s large panoramic computer enhanced
photo works is an inspiration for many contemporary art photographers. They have the majestic
presence of nineteenth century landscape paintings while dealing with our present time.
But where Gursky’s monumental images can seem distanced, Funch’s primary concern is still
people and the tales he spins from observing and categorizing them. Much in the same way
as the American sculptor Duane Hanson creates hyper real sculptures of “ordinary” people
that elevate the ordinary to a life less ordinary. Another contemporary influence in Funch’s
works is Philip-Lorca di-Corcia. His work could be described as documentary
photography mixed with the fictional world of cinema and advertising, which creates a
powerful link between reality, fantasy and desire. He takes everyday occurrences beyond the
realm of banality, trying to inspire in his pictures’ spectators an awareness of the psychology
and emotion contained in real life situations. Funch and diCorcia share many references, but
as a photo conceptualist Funch is more interested in the idea of his work. After spending time
with Funch’s work you are never in doubt that it has been manipulated, This awareness is part
of the idea. Funch’s work also pay tribute to Jeff Wall’s art. Peter’s cinematic format and look,
dramatic lighting and sense of poetic situations are found in Walls work as well. These cinematic
trademarks, that include Funch’s time suspending technique, is also what has earned
his references to such cineastes as Wong Kar Wai and Wim Wenders.
The fascinating aspect of Peter Funch’s work is that it branches out and extends into so many
directions, from street snapshot, over painting to film, literature and conceptualism.
There are so many paths in his art. I suggest you find your own.
Jesper Elg - V1 Gallery