Biography
Markus Muntean was born in 1962 in Graz, Austria. Adi Rosenblum was born in 1962 in Haifa, Israel.
Muntean/Rosenblum live and work in Vienna, the city where they met while studying at the end of the 1980s. The artists have collaborated since 1992.
Large-scale painting is one of the core aspects of their practice. However, they often expand their work by creating large installations with sculptural elements where performances are staged or films screened. In addition, they make drawings as well as collages with texts and photographs.
In their work, Muntean/Rosenblum mix references to art history and present-day popular culture. They mostly depict groups of apparently lethargic or melancholic young people in idle situations, which are either ordinary and everyday or mysterious and ambiguous. The often-dreamy scenes take place in rooms, public spaces or landscapes as if part of a film, presenting unresolved situations in the making. The characters seem to adopt postures copied from fashion magazines, or from paintings originating from the renaissance to the nineteenth century. Their work is frequently accompanied by captions or texts not-directly relating to the depicted scene, adding another layer of complexity. The artists themselves described their work as ‘precise ambiguity’. By playing with visual codes from the past and the present, Muntean/Rosenblum scrutinise the power of images and how these constitute an overwhelming collective memory.
Work by Muntean/Rosenblum has been exhibited widely in international museums, institutions and galleries. Recent solo exhibitions were at Espacio Marte, Mexico City (2020); MAC, Coruña (2018); MOCAK, Krakow (2018); Group exhibitions they recently participated in were, among others, at Tel Aviv Museum of Art (2019); Kunsthaus Graz (2018); Nam June Paik Art Centre, Gyeonggi-do (2018); The Parkview Museum, Singapore (2017); and Oude Kerk, Amsterdam (2016). Their work is included in both private and public collections, such as the MoMA, New York NY; the Albertina, Vienna; 21c Museum, Louisville, KY; the KRC Collection, Voorschoten; The Rubell Family Collection, Miami, FL, and Cobra to Contemporary/The Brown Family Collection. In 2022 the artist duo will mount an exhibition at the Albertina Museum, in Vienna, Austria.
CV
General
- 1962 Markus Muntean born in Graz, Austria / Adi Rosenblum born in Haifa, Israel
- 1992 Collaboration
Solo Exhibitions (selection)
- 2022 Albertina, Vienna, AT
- 2021 “Uncertainty’s Grace”, CAC Málaga, Málaga, ES
“Uncertainty’s Grace”, Galerie Zink, Waldkirchen, DE
“Tearing off the Veil of Ego”, Viewing Room, Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, IL - 2020 Espacio Marte, Ciudad de Mexico, MX
- 2019 CFalive, Milano, IT
Ebensperger Rhomberg Gallery, Salzburg, AT - 2018 „Walking Wounded”, MOCAK, Museum of Contemporary Art, Krakow, PL
„This Is Not an Exit” , MAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, A Coruña, ES
„The White Exploit”, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam, NL
- 2017 Parkview Museum, Beijing, China
- 2014 Institut für zeitgenössische Kunst, Nürnberg, Germany
- 2012 “The Management of Insignificance”, CAC Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- 2008 “Between what was and what might be”, Essl Museum, Klosterneuburg/Vienna, Austria
- 2006 “Make death listen”, MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, León, Spain
- 2004 “It Is Never Facts That Tell”, Tate Britain, Art Now, London, Great Britain
- 2003 “There Is A Silence To Fill”, Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg, Austria
- 2002 “To Die For”, De Appel, Amsterdam, Holland 2000 “Where else”, SECESSION, Vienna, Austria
- 1999 Chicago Project Room, Chicago, USA
- 1998 “Lonely Facts”, Kunsthalle Luckenwalde, Germany
Group Exhibitions (selection)
- 2022 „Summer Exhibition“, Arndt Artbarn, Cape Schanck, AU
„Avantgarde und Gegenwart“, Belvedere 21, Vienna, AT - 2021 „Wonderland“, Albertina Modern, Vienna, AT
“Was sein wird – Von der Zukunft zu den Zukünften“, Kunsthaus Graz, AT
“Wilde Kindheit – Ideal und Realität von 1900 bis heute“, LENTOS Kunstmuseum, Linz, AT
„Auf zu Neuem“, Landesgalerie Niederösterreich, Krems, AT
“Schwarz Weiß & Grau“, Albertina, Vienna, AT
„Fragile Schöpfung“, Dommuseum, Vienna, AT
- 2020 “In Search of the Miracolous”, Project Space “On The Inside”, Amsterdam, NL
Changez! Art Brussels in Amsterdam“, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam, NL
„Contemporary Models of Realism”, MOCAK, Krakow, PL
„Five Itineraries with a Point of view”, MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, León, ES - 2019 „Trouble in Paradise”, Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
„Intriguing Uncertainties”, The Parkview Museum, Beijing, CN
„Techo de cristal”, Horrach Moya, Palma, ES
„A New Age: The Spiritual in Art”, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, IL
„8th Moscow International Biennale of Contemporary Art 2019″, New Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, RU - 2018 „Trauma, Distress, Ecstasy, Emptiness – Formulas of Pathos”, The Gallery of West Bohemia, Pilsen, CZ
„Glaube Liebe Hoffnung”, Kunsthaus Graz, AT
„Unexpected Narratives”, Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, USA
„Island in the Sun”, Centro Culture de S. Lorenço, PT
„Mezzanine 1″, Horrach Moya, Palma, ES
„Everything Happens At Once” , Galerie Zink, Brussels, BE
„Intriguing Uncertainties”, Parkview Museum, Singapore, SG
„Valentin Carron, Frederic Gabioud, Muntean/Rosenblum”, No Conformism, Milano, IT - 2017 „Imaginery Asia”, Nam June Paik Art Center, Gyeonggi-do, KR
„Oh…Jakob Lena Knebl und die mumok Sammlung”, mumok, Vienna, AT
„Spiegelnde Fenster- Reflexionen von Welt und Selbst”, 21er Haus, Vienna, AT
„The Present Order”, Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, DE
„Escanas: acción y representaćion. Colección Los Bragales”, MUPAM, Malaga, ES
„Bilder der Sprache – Sprache der Bilder”, Dom Museum, Vienna, AT
„On Display II”, Sammlung Philara, Düsseldorf, DE
„The Artist’s Voice”, The Parkview Museum, Singapore, SG - 2016 „Intriguantes Incertitudes“, Musée d’art moderne et contemporain, Saint-Étienne, FR
„Once in a Lifetime“, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, NL
„Collection 6“, MOCAK, Krakow, PL
„L’arte differente“, MAXXI, Rome, IT
„Innsbruck International. Biennial of the Arts“, Innsbruck, AT
„Fragmentos a su imán“, Horrach Moya, Palma, SP - 2015 „Drawing Now“, Albertina, Vienna, AT
„Dialog der Meisterwerke“, Städel Museum, Frankfurt, DE
„My Selfie & I“, Tel Aviv Museum, IL
„We Gave Our Best“, Esxla, Los Angeles, USA - 2014 „Texte in der Kunst“, Galerie Kargl, Vienna, AT
Les esthétiques d’un monde désenchanté, CAC Meymac, FR
EMAP 2014, Ewha Media Art Presentation, Ehwa University, Seoul, KR
“States of Mind”, Maison Particulière, Brussels, BE
„Bittersüsse Zeiten“, Kunsthaus Stade, DE
„Feels Like Heaven“, Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, IL - 2013 „Die Sammlung #4“, 21er Haus, Vienna, AT
„Nachbilder“, Sammlungsausstellung, Stiftung Galerie fur Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, - 2012 „Die Sammlung, 21er Haus, Vienna, AT
„Sehnsucht“, Castle of Gaasbeek, BE
„Una Mirada Multiple. Selecciones de la Colección Ella Fontanals-Cisneros“, Museo de Bellas Artes, Havana Biennial, Havana, CU
„Common History and Its Private Stories. Geschichte und Geschichten“, Sofia Art Gallery, Sofia, BU
„COLAPSO. Colección MUSAC“, EHOspedería Fonseca. Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, SP
„Eros & Thanatos“, Werkschauhalle, Baumwollspinnerei, Leipzig, DE
„Röcke tragen. Die Inszenierung von Kleidung in der zeitgenössischen Fotografie und Plastik“, Museum der Moderne, Salzburg, AT
„Beauty Contest“, MUSA, Vienna, AT - 2011 „Creating the New Century: Contemporary Art from the Dicke Collection”, The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, USA
„The last first Decade“, Ellipse Foundation, Alcoitão, PT
„ALBERTINA CONTEMPORARY – Gerhard Richter – Kiki Smith“, Albertina, Vienna, AT
„Körper Codes“, Museum der Moderne, Salzburg, AT
„Beauty Contest“, Austrian Cultural Forum, New York, USA
„Familienbande”, Galerie Thomas, Munich, DE
„Urban Photography in Europe from 1970’s”, Pavillon Populaire Montpellier, FR - 2010 „Menschenbilder – Aus der Sammlung”, Museum der Moderne, Salzburg, AT
„Director’s Choice“, ARKEN Museum for Moderne Kunst, Ishoj, DK
„Long time no see“, The Brno House of Arts – Central Building, Brno, CZ
„La Fuerza de la Palabra”, Guadalajara Mexico, MX
„Lust und Laster. Die sieben Todsünden von Dürer bis Nauman“, Kunstmuseum Bern in cooperation with Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, CH
„Changing the world”, ARNDT Berlin, DE
„No New Thing Under The Sun”, Royal Academy, London, GB
„Repeat all“, Centro Cultural Chacao, Caracas, VE - 2009 „Being in the World: Selections from the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection”, Cisneros fontanals art foundation, Miami, USA
„Globalizados/Globalized”, Huesca´s Periferias Festival, MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, León, SP
„Sur le dandysme aujourd´hui : From Shop Window Mannequin to Media Star”, Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea, Santiago de Compostela, SP
„Aspekte des Sammelns”, Essl Museum, Klosterneuburg/Vienna, AT
”Conflicting Tales: Subjectivity (Quadrlogy, Part 1)”, Burger Collection, Berlin, DE
ART TLV 09, Tel Aviv, IL
„MI VIDA.From Heaven to Hell”, Mücsarnok, Kunsthalle Budapest, HU
„HUÉSPED: Colección MUSAC”, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Rosario (MACRO), Rosario, AR
„Common history and its private stories.”, MUSA, Vienna, AT
„HUÉSPED: Colección MUSAC”, MNBA, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires, AR
„Rewind, fast forward”, Neue Galerie Graz, Graz, AT
„Repeat All”, MIS, Museu da Imagem e do Som, São Paulo, BR - 2008 „Voyage sentimental”, Mediations Biennale in Poznan, PL
„Drawing now – drawing then”, Arndt & Partner, Zurich, CH
„System Mensch. Werke aus der Sammlung des MdM Salzburg“, Museum der Moderne, Salzburg, AT
„Freundliche Feinde / Friendly Enemies“, Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, DE
„KOMPLEX. Österreichische Gegenwartskunst aus der Sammlung Essl, Klosterneuburg/Wien”, Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund, DE
„Central Europe Revisited II“, Schloss Esterházy, Eisenstadt, AT
„Si no puedo dibujarlo…“, Mas Art Gallery, Barcelona, SP - 2007 “Repeat All”, Matucana100, Santiago de Chile, Chile
- 2006 “The wonderful fund collection“, Le Musée de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
- 2005 “Slices of Life”, Austrian Cultural Forum New York, New York, USA
- 2004 26. São Paulo Biennale, São Paulo, Brazil
- 2000 “There is something you should know“, Die EVN Sammlung im Belvedere, Vienna, Austria
- 1999 “Wild Life“, The Austrian Cultural Institute, London, Great Britain
- 1998 “Sarajevo 2000″, Museum Moderner Kunst, Vienna, Austria
- 1995 “Lebendige Vergangenheit”, Palais Liechtenstein, Feldkirch, Austria
Works in Public and Private Collections
- MoMA, Museum of Modern Art, New York
- Albertina, Vienna, Austria
- Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna (MAK), Vienna, Austria
- MUMOK, Museum of Modern Art Foundation Ludwig Vienna, Vienna
- Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Austria
- Neue Galeri, Graz, Austria
- Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien|Sammlung BA-CA, Vienna
- Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, Germany
- Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
- MOCAK, Museum of Contemporary Art Krakau, Poland
- MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemoráneo de Castilla y Léon, Léon, Spain
- Zabludowicz Collection, London, New York
- Susan and Michael Hort, New York
- Ella Fontanals-Cisneros Collection, Miami
- Rubell Family Collection, Miami
- Dicke Collection, Ohio
- The Progressive Art Collection, Ohio
- Burger Collection, Hong Kong
- Belvedere 21er Haus, Vienna, Austria
- EVN Collection, Austria
- Essl Museum, Klosterneuburg, Austria
- DekaBank Collection, Frankfurt, Germany
- Advaney Collection, The Hague, Netherlands
- Ellipse Foundation, Alcoitčo, Portugal
- ARCO Foundation, Madrid, Spain
- Coleccion Inelcom Arte Contemporaneo, Madrid, Spain
- VAC – Colección Valencia Arte Contemporánea, Valencia, Spain
- Swiss Re Collection, Zurich, Switzerland
Bibliography
- Monika Koziol et al., Muntean/Rosenblum: Walking Wounded, MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow, 2019
- Klaus Albrecht Schröder, Elsy Lahner, Albertina Wien (Hgs.): Drawing Now, Hirmer Verlag, Wien/München 2015
- Karl-Josef Pazzini (Hg.): Bildung vor Bildern: Kunst – Pädagogik – Psychoanalyse (Theorie Bilden), transcript 2015
- Fernando Huici, Gestión Cultural y Comunicación, S.L (Hgs.): Muntean/Rosenblum, The Management of Insignificance, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Málaga 2013,
- Essl Museum (Hg.), Muntean/Rosenblum: Between What Was and What Might Be, Essl Museum 2008
- Arndt & Partner Berlin/Zurich (Hg.): Muntean/Rosenblum, Kerber Verlag, 2008
- Ulf Meyer (Hg.): Double Act. Künstlerpaare, Prestel Verlag, München/Berlin/London/New York 2007
- JRP Editions (Hg.): Markus Muntean /Adi Rosenblum – Make Death Listen, JRP Ringier Kunstverlag 2006
- De Appel, Adam Szymczyk (Hgs.): Muntean/Rosenblum – To Die For, De Appel Centre for Contemporary Art, Amsterdam 2002
- Uta Grosenick, Burkhard Riemschneider (Hgs.): Art now, Taschen Verlag 2002, p. 316–319
- Thomas Trummer (Hg.): Das Neue, Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Wien 2002
- Lóránd Hegyi (Hg.): Aspekte/Positionen: 50 Jahre Kunst in Mitteleuropa 1949–99, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Wien 1999
- Secession (Hg.): Muntean/Rosenblum, Secession, Wien 2001
- Peter Weiermair, Andreas Hapkemeyer (Hgs.): Figuration, Ursula-Blickle-Stiftung 1999, p. 66–69, 96, 107
