Jörg Plickat is one of the most renowned contemporary sculptors in Germany and worldwide. Born in 1954 in Hamburg, he graduated in sculpture from Muthesius University in Kiel in 1980. Since 1980, he has been living and working in Bredenbek, Schleswig-Holstein.
Initially, the sculptural works of the German artist had a figurative character. After 1985, his works began to evolve towards abstract and geometric forms, although the human figure in a reduced form is still noticeable in some of his works. In Plickat's sculptural works created from the second half of the 1980s, references to the European avant-garde tradition are consistently clear. These references have also proven to be fresh and attractive in the 21st century, despite the postmodernist tendencies in sculpture and architecture from the late 80s and 90s (such as the deconstructive works by Frank Owen Gehry) - questioning the modernist attitudes brought by the avant-garde tradition.
Since 2000, Plickat's main creative material has been corten steel, as well as bronze. According to German art historian Barbara Aust-Wegemund, "the intellectual aspect of the sculptor from Schleswig-Holstein focuses on the relationships between spatiality, material, situation, and light and shadow." His simplified, geometric formal language is understandable worldwide, combining both intimacy and monumentality. It seems that the mastery of Jörg Plickat's sculptural work lies primarily in the sense of proportion - in both monumental and small-scale-studio works, encapsulating both the craftsmanship and spiritual aspect of his sculptures.
My experiences with the artist's sculptures, which I first saw in the vast exhibition spaces at the International Contemporary Art Exhibition Nord Art in Büdelsdorf, Germany, a few years ago, could be described as a "space of dialogue - dialogue of space." The German artist, especially in his large-scale works, uniquely deals with the issues of space and the relationships between the concept of space and the perception of spatial characteristics; creative references to them and philosophical aspects that encompass space in terms of laws describing and characterizing this phenomenon. Plickat's sculptures fit seamlessly into environments with intriguing structures, be it a post-industrial architectural landscape or open spaces, engaging in a dialogue with the surroundings, creating logical connections and reinforcing the artistic metaphors unique to specific (chosen by the artist) places and spaces. This way, through both temporary exhibitions and permanent public sculptures in many countries worldwide, Plickat "sculpts space." This "sculpting of space" not only concerns the physical area annexed by the German artist's art but also touches on the mental space, the awareness of the audience - especially the local community - residents rooted in various traditions and cultures. Plickat's sculptural works are, in a way, an extension of the concept of "social sculpture" by the German artist and activist Joseph Beuys, according to which everyone can shape their surroundings and environment.
Jörg Plickat has had over 350 exhibitions worldwide so far. His over 120 sculptures are displayed in public spaces in ten countries across four continents. He has participated in events such as the 2024 8th Triennale of Sculpture Art in Switzerland, the 25th Nordart Festival in Germany, the Sculpture Art Festival in Brussels, the Prague Line of Sculpture, Chateau Charleval in Luberon, France, Menne Gallery in Kiel, Germany, and Biegas Gallery in Warsaw. He has received numerous national and international awards in the field of sculpture and architectural realization, including the 2017 Nordart Award in Germany, the 2015 MacQuarie Award in Australia (Sculpture Art by the Sea, Bondi), and the 2008 Cultural Heritage Conservation Award of Lower Saxony and the Golden IF Corporate Architecture Award for the reconstruction of the partially destroyed building from 1150 using corten steel. He is also a master sculptor and academic professor, having worked and taught at a variety of institutions worldwide. Honorary Professor at the Academy of Art, University of Architecture and Technology in Xi'an (XUAUT) from 2019 to 2021.
Prof. Dr. Jan Wiktor Sienkiewicz
Curator Warsaw