Geboren 1948 in Neuenkirchen und später in Lilienthal aufgewachsen. 1968 bis 1972 Studium der Bildhauerei an der Bremer Hochschule für Gestaltung bei Professor Schreiter. Mit kinetischen Lichtobjekten ist er bereits 1973 im Leopold-Hoesch-Museum in Düren und im Kunstverein Unna vertreten. 1974 erhält
Volker Kühn den Förderpreis des Bremer Senats und 1976 den ersten Preis im Wettbewerb der Bremer Hochschule für Nautik.
Ab 1976 wendet sich
Volker Kühn vermehrt dem Zeichnen und der Druckgrafik zu. Es entstehen die ersten Miniradierungen, mit denen er die ganze Welt „erobert“. Nach einer großen Ausstellungstournee durch Japan packt der Künstler sein Radierwerkzeug beiseite und deckt die Radierpresse ab – die Zeit ist reif für Neues:
Seit 1986 setzt er seine Ideen nach der Devise „Man muss nur machen!“, in Objekte um: dreidimensionale Kunstwerke, die von Freud und Leid eines jeden Menschen erzählen – Momentaufnahmen, die den Betrachter schmunzeln oder laut auflachen machen, finden sich auf diesen kleinen Bühnen wieder. Thematisch lassen sich diese Arbeiten nicht eingrenzen.
Volker Kühn entlarvt Klischeevorstellungen auf ironische Weise, lenkt den Blick auf menschliche Unzulänglichkeiten, die wir im Leben an uns oder bei anderen oft genug haben erfahren müssen. Augenzwinkernd und stets versöhnlich schafft er dabei eine Distanz vom Betrachter zu den eigenen Schwächen, zu Freude, Liebe und dem Streben nach Erfolg. Dabei enthalten die Objekte Menschen, Tiere und vielerlei Dinge, die oftmals in Situationen und Proportionen überzeichnet sind.
Hilf- und hoffnungslos ist es jedoch nicht um den Menschen bestellt: Es kommt nie zur letzten Katastrophe, den endgültigen Absturz gibt es nicht. Neben seinem Humor und seiner freundlichen Ironie ist ein weiterer Wesenszug des Künstlers, ein „hoffnungsloser Optimist“ zu sein.
Die Bildsprache, die
Volker Kühn spricht, ist international verständlich; sei es in Deutschland, Österreich, Belgien, Frankreich oder New York, Kanada, Kalifornien, Florida, im Libanon oder in Dubai, Norwegen, Schweiz, England, Japan und Russland (um nur einige Orte zu nennen): Die Menschen sind begeistert. Darum ist auch nicht verwunderlich, dass seine Arbeiten international in vielen namhaften Galerien geführt werden.
Im April 2005 war erstmals die Ausstellung „Elefantastic“ im Züricher Zoo zu bewundern: In dieser Ausstellung zeigt Volker Kühn seine Privatsammlung rund um den liebenswerten Dickhäuter.
Born in 1948 in Neuenkirchen,
Volker Kühn grew up in Lilienthal, Germany. Between 1968 and 1972 he studied sculpture under the supervision of Professor Schreiter at the Bremen College of Design. Early exhibitions in 1973 included kinetic light objects at Leopold-Hoesch-Museum in Dueren and at the Unna Art Society. In 1974 he was honoured with the Young Artist Award of the Bremen Senate, followed in 1976 by the highest award of the Bremen College of Nautical Science.
From 1976 on he focused on drawing and graphic prints. He created small etchings that are now world-famous. After various exhibitions throughout Japan he quitted etching and started something totally new:
True to his motto‚ “Just do it!’, he has been making three-dimensional objects: Showcases displaying the miniature worlds of little figures whose interactions tell short stories of good times and bad times in people’s lives. This “art in boxes” comes in small stages like snapshots which provoke amusement and laughter. Thematically, they are inexhaustible. The artist caringly and ironically unmasks stereotypes, and he turns the spotlight on those personal deficiencies which all of us perceive in ourselves and in our fellow men. With a wink and in a very conciliatory way he creates an emotional distance towards our own weaknesses, loves, joys, and striving for success. All his art objects involve the images of human beings, animals and “animate” things, often showing absurdly exaggerated proportions and juxtapositions.
But mankind is not altogether lost. The ultimate calamity never comes to pass; the downfall never really happens. One of the artist’s virtues, besides his sense of humour and his friendly irony, is his strong tendency always to look on the bright side of life.
Volker Kühns picture language is universally understood – in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Canada, New York City, California, Florida, Libanon, Dubai, Norway, Switzerland, England, Japan and Russia, (just to name a few places), his audience is enthusiastic. And this is why his art is shown in famous galleries all over the world.
In April 2005, his exhibition ‚Elefantastic’ had its debut at the Zurich Zoo: For the very first time,
Volker Kühn opened to the public his private collection of elephants and related objects.
Born in 1948 in Neuenkirchen,
Volker Kühn grew up in Lilienthal, Germany. Between 1968 and 1972 he studied sculpture under the supervision of Professor Schreiter at the Bremen College of Design. Early exhibitions in 1973 included kinetic light objects at Leopold-Hoesch-Museum in Dueren and at the Unna Art Society. In 1974 he was honoured with the Young Artist Award of the Bremen Senate, followed in 1976 by the highest award of the Bremen College of Nautical Science.
From 1976 on he focused on drawing and graphic prints. He created small etchings that are now world-famous. After various exhibitions throughout Japan he quitted etching and started something totally new:
True to his motto‚ “Just do it!’, he has been making three-dimensional objects: Showcases displaying the miniature worlds of little figures whose interactions tell short stories of good times and bad times in people’s lives. This “art in boxes” comes in small stages like snapshots which provoke amusement and laughter. Thematically, they are inexhaustible. The artist caringly and ironically unmasks stereotypes, and he turns the spotlight on those personal deficiencies which all of us perceive in ourselves and in our fellow men. With a wink and in a very conciliatory way he creates an emotional distance towards our own weaknesses, loves, joys, and striving for success. All his art objects involve the images of human beings, animals and “animate” things, often showing absurdly exaggerated proportions and juxtapositions.
But mankind is not altogether lost. The ultimate calamity never comes to pass; the downfall never really happens. One of the artist’s virtues, besides his sense of humour and his friendly irony, is his strong tendency always to look on the bright side of life.
His picture language is universally understood – in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Canada, New York City, California, Florida, Libanon, Dubai, Norway, Switzerland, England, Japan and Russia, (just to name a few places), his audience is enthusiastic. And this is why his art is shown in famous galleries all over the world.
In April 2005, his exhibition ‚Elefantastic’ had its debut at the Zurich Zoo: For the very first time,
Volker Kühn opened to the public his private collection of elephants and related objects.
