Helmut Ditsch
Encyclopedia
Helmut Ditsch is an Argentine painter. Ditsch's work focuses on extreme natural phenomena such as mountains, desert, ice, and water. Due to knowledge gained during his time as an extreme mountain sportsman, he is able to portray a vast amount of passion and firsthand experience in his epic works. The work of Helmut Ditsch is best understood under the category of post-medial realism.
grasslands and the great Andes
mountain range, which have influenced his life and work beyond measure.
In 1983, Helmut began working as a freelance artist. After two years, due to his initial negative experiences with galleries, his artistic production was put on hold. In exchange for painting, he embarked on numerous expeditions in the Argentine Andes and devoted himself to extreme mountain sports.
1986 saw Helmut Ditsch return to painting, through which flowed his experiences and knowledge of the mountains. At this time he detached himself from a surrealistic style in favor of realism
. For him, painting and his knowledge of the outdoors are an analogy.
In 1988, Helmut Ditsch moved to Vienna, Austria, to begin his education at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
. He concluded his studies in painting in 1993 and graduated with honors. In the following year he opened his studio near Vienna. Around this time Helmut Ditsch became acquainted with and befriended the world-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner
in Meran, with whom he has since collaborated on numerous occasions.
In order to study the glacial ice, Helmut Ditsch undertook a journey in 1995 to the region of Patagonia
. In 1998, he spent many weeks isolated in the Austrian Alps to study for his painting “Das Gebirge” (“The Mountains”). He continuously embarks on journeys into the wilderness in order to discover new subject matter for his work. Aside from painting, Helmut Ditsch is a renowned designer in many fields such as fashion, automobiles and airplanes, as well as producer of fine wine. He is also sought after and often invited to hold lectures at different universities.
In 2000, he moved his studio to Ireland, where he has lived and worked since.
Life
The grandparents of the Argentine-born Helmut Ditsch originally came from Austria and Germany, as well as northern Italy, and immigrated to Argentina in 1920. The early death of the artist’s mother, and with it the theme of life and death, impact his work to this day. At the age of eight, he was introduced to the two vast Argentine landscapes, the PampaPampa
The Pampas are the fertile South American lowlands, covering more than , that include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Córdoba, most of Uruguay, and the southernmost Brazilian State, Rio Grande do Sul...
grasslands and the great Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountain range, which have influenced his life and work beyond measure.
In 1983, Helmut began working as a freelance artist. After two years, due to his initial negative experiences with galleries, his artistic production was put on hold. In exchange for painting, he embarked on numerous expeditions in the Argentine Andes and devoted himself to extreme mountain sports.
1986 saw Helmut Ditsch return to painting, through which flowed his experiences and knowledge of the mountains. At this time he detached himself from a surrealistic style in favor of realism
Realism (visual arts)
Realism in the visual arts is a style that depicts the actuality of what the eyes can see. The term is used in different senses in art history; it may mean the same as illusionism, the representation of subjects with visual mimesis or verisimilitude, or may mean an emphasis on the actuality of...
. For him, painting and his knowledge of the outdoors are an analogy.
In 1988, Helmut Ditsch moved to Vienna, Austria, to begin his education at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
. He concluded his studies in painting in 1993 and graduated with honors. In the following year he opened his studio near Vienna. Around this time Helmut Ditsch became acquainted with and befriended the world-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner
Reinhold Messner
Reinhold Messner is an Italian mountaineer and explorer from Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol "whose astonishing feats on Everest and on peaks throughout the world have earned him the status of the greatest climber in history." He is renowned for making the first solo ascent of Mount Everest without...
in Meran, with whom he has since collaborated on numerous occasions.
In order to study the glacial ice, Helmut Ditsch undertook a journey in 1995 to the region of Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
. In 1998, he spent many weeks isolated in the Austrian Alps to study for his painting “Das Gebirge” (“The Mountains”). He continuously embarks on journeys into the wilderness in order to discover new subject matter for his work. Aside from painting, Helmut Ditsch is a renowned designer in many fields such as fashion, automobiles and airplanes, as well as producer of fine wine. He is also sought after and often invited to hold lectures at different universities.
In 2000, he moved his studio to Ireland, where he has lived and worked since.
Work (Selection)
- Cycle IV, 1991
- Über dem Güßfeldt-Gletscher, 1993
- Cerro Ameghino, 1994
- Aconcagua, 1994
- Klagenfurt Becken, 1996
- Death Valley IV, 1996
- Mountain Range, 1998–1999
- Death Valley ?, 1995–2000
- The Answer, 1997–2000
- Ötscher, 1998–2000
- Descalza, 1999–2000
- Point Of No Return, 2001
- Das Eis und die vergängliche Ewigkeit, 2001–2002
- The ten commandments II, 2002
- Los Hielos, 2002
- Cosmigonon, 2002
- Traunsee, 2003
- Das Meer I, 2004
- Cafayate, 2004
- Perito Moreno, 2004
- Also Sprach Zarathustra, 2004
- Das Meer II, 2005
- Point Of No Return II, 2005
- K2, 2006
Awards
- 1990 Master Class Award of Academy of Fine Arts ViennaAcademy of Fine Arts ViennaThe Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
, Austria - 1993 Appreciation Prize of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research Austria
- 1997 Sonderpreis des Bau Holding Kunstforums
Solo Exhibitions (Selection)
- 1983 Municipalidad de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 1983 Centro Cultural Teatro San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 1997 Bau Holding Kunstforum, Klagenfurt, Austria
- 2001 Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2001 Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago de Chile, Chile
- 2002 "Meister/Werke im Belvedere", Museum Österreichische Galerie BelvedereÖsterreichische Galerie BelvedereThe Österreichische Galerie Belvedere is a museum housed in the Belvedere palace, in Vienna, Austria.The art collection includes masterpieces from the Middle Ages and Baroque until the 21st century, though it focuses on Austrian painters from the Fin de Siècle and Art Nouveau period...
, Vienna, Austria - 2003 Kunsthalle Krems, Krems, Austria
- 2005 "The Triumph Of Nature", “tresor” im BA-CA Kunstforum, Vienna, Austria
- 2006 "The Triumph Of Nature", at the Casa Ditsch, Lesachtal, Austria
Group Exhibitions (Selection)
- 1990 "Meisterschule Brauer Oberes Belvedere ’90", Museum Österreichische Galerie BelvedereÖsterreichische Galerie BelvedereThe Österreichische Galerie Belvedere is a museum housed in the Belvedere palace, in Vienna, Austria.The art collection includes masterpieces from the Middle Ages and Baroque until the 21st century, though it focuses on Austrian painters from the Fin de Siècle and Art Nouveau period...
, Vienna, Austria - 1991 "Die Kunst", Messepalast, Vienna, Austria
- 1992 Städtische Galerie Wiener Neustadt, Austria
- 1994 "Realismus heute", Stadtmuseum Erlangen, Germany
- 1994 "Kick off", Academy of Fine Arts ViennaAcademy of Fine Arts ViennaThe Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
, Austria - 1998 "Über die Berge", Niederösterreichisches Landesmuseum, St. Pölten, Austria
- 1999 "10. Faistauer-Preis 1999", Galerie im Traklhaus, Salzburg, Austria
- 2000 "Malerei: Österreichische KünstlerInnen heute", Museum Albertina and Suppan Contemporary, Vienna, Austria
- 2001 "Festészet nevében", Szépmüvészeti Múzeum, Budapest, Hungary
- 2001 "I Bienal Internacional de Arte de Buenos Aires", Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Córdoba, Argentina
- 2002 "Mo(u)numental", Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck, Austria
- 2002 "Schöne Aussicht", Kunst Meran, Italy
- 2004 "Phänomen Landschaft", Niederösterreichisches Landesmuseum, St. Pölten, Austria
- 2004 Messner Mountain MuseumMessner Mountain MuseumThe Messner Mountain Museum or MMM is a museum project by Italian mountaineer and extreme climber, Reinhold Messner, in South Tyrol in northern Italy. The mountain museum is based at five different locations....
, Sulden, Italy - 2004 Strabag Artlounge, Vienna, Austria
- 2005 "Figur und Wirklichkeit – das BA-CA Kunstforum on tour im Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck, Austria
- 2006 "Einblicke", Werke aus der Kunstsammlung der Oesterreichischen Nationalbank Europäische Zentralbank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- 2006 32ª Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2008 Expo 2008Expo 2008Expo 2008 was an international exposition held from Saturday, 14 June to Sunday, 14 September 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain, with the theme of "Water and Sustainable Development". The exposition was placed in a meander of the river Ebro...
, Zaragossa, Spain
Works in permanent Collections (Selection)
- Messner Mountain Museum Firmian: Aconcagua, The answer, K2
- Messner Mountain Museum Ortles: Perito Moreno
- Niederösterreichisches Landesmuseum: Ötscher
- Strabag Kunstforum: The Last Day
- Sammlung BIG (Bundes Immobilien Gesellschaft):
- Landesgericht Klagenfurt: Klagenfurter Becken
- Bezirksgericht Spittal an der Drau: Das Eis und die vergängliche Ewigkeit
- Bundes Polizei Direktion Villach: Großglockner II
- Finanzamt Villach: Cafayate, Das Meer III
- Stadtgalerie Klagenfurt: Großglockner I
Publications
- Carl Aigner: The Triumph of Nature. The Paintings of Helmut Ditsch (Monograph). Prestel Munich, Berlin, London, New York, 2005, ISBN 3-7913-3269-4
- Includes contributory articles in various international catalogues and newspapers, among other things: Elle Argentina (Buenos Aires), El Mercurio (Santiago, Chile), Weltkunst (München), Wirtschaftsblatt (Wien), Krone (Wien), Kurier (Wien), La Nacion (Buenos Aires), Clarin (Buenos Aires)
- Carl Aigner: Helmut Ditsch: The Triumph of Painting (Monograph). Prestel Munich, Berlin, London, New York, 2009, ISBN 978-3-7913-4209-2