Kippenberger: The Artist and His Families

by Susanne Kippenberger

Over the course of his 20-year career, Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997) cast himself alternately as hard-drinking carouser and confrontational art-world jester, thrusting these personae to the forefront of his prodigious creativity. He was also very much a player in the international art world of the 1970s right up until his death in 1997, commissioning work from artists such as Jeff Koons and Mike Kelley, and acting as unofficial ringleader to a generation of German artists. Written by the artist's sister, Susanne Kippenberger, this first English-language biography draws both from personal memories of their shared childhood and exhaustive interviews with Kippenberger's extended family of friends and colleagues in the art world. "Kippenberger"gives insight into the psychology and drive behind this playful and provocative artist.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Biography

564 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Felix Müller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lieblingsanekdote: Wie Kippenberger 1994 in Rotterdam zufällig im selben Hotel wie Boris Becker untergebracht ist, dort im Restaurant seine gewohnt langwierigen Vorträge hält, woraufhin ihn Becker, davon zu Tode genervt, irgendwann anschreit, er möge doch bitte endlich still sein.

Michael Stich ist auch da, aber der hält sich zurück.

[Zeljko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kippi als enfant terrible der deutschen Nachkriegskunst wurde schon häufig bemüht. Darüber hinaus war mir aber nicht klar was für ein wunderbarer Wortkünstler Kippenberger war, der sich nicht nur für "Mali, Mali" begeistert hat. Allein schon wegen der vielen Wortwitze und Sprüche zahlt es sich aus dieses Buch zu lesen.

[Zach Werbalowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic biography of a complicated man and oddball artist. Written with love by his sister its a relatively easy read traversing his interesting and short life.

[Michael Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

very entertaining and stimulating example of an artist: a great effort by K's younger sister

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty moving and insightful view into Kippenberger's life, and, to a lesser extent, his work. I've always loved Kippenberger's art, but I usually assumed the underlying idea was an insistence on production above all else. After reading this, I've got a much more nuanced view of the poetic and celebratory nature of his work, how it looks at kitsch and then reconfigures it so that we end up thinking about humans and their beautiful (and sometimes distasteful) frailty. If you're an artist, I imagine you might be underlining a lot of quotes from MK to use as inspirational Stuart Smalley-esque affirmations. I sure did.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

That the author was his sister salvaged it from being part of any particular, myopic agenda, and made it emotionally human. That she was a journalist was the book's strength as well as its weakness. The timeline, facts, and names are all correct but sometimes tedious, like a newspaper article. Had it been a more literary undertaking, it would have been a little easier to 'inhabit'. But everything is there: what a great, hilarious, serious, melancholic, and alcoholic artist.

[Tommy]

English version, not listed on Goodreads, just released. At Amazon, see below.

http://www.amazon.com/Kippenberger-Ar...

[Andrew Plank · Rating 3 out of 5]

st martin the hung, a fun one but so swift and repetitive

[Benjamin Lettuce Treuhaft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Maybe I'll write some more when I find time on my filthy hands, because it really affected me.

[Eric Dietz · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an artist, Martin Kippenberger was messy, sprawling, sometimes drunk and unfocused. This book feels like it, too.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid overview of his life. I'm now very interested in delving more into some analysis & criticism of his work..