email studio address http://www.kaifranz.de |
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english
For the last five years I have been working on a body of work that is based on a machine I built called Dual-Axis Precision Deposition System, or plopper. The machine primarily fabricates sculptures, but occasionally also produces prints, drawings, and films. The sculptures begin as digital drawings created with computer-aided-design (CAD) software that are then fabricated through a custom computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) process. The plopper, a hacked architectural plotter, first deposits sand, then drops resin onto the landscape of sand building the sculpture layer by layer. While similar to 3D printing, the technique surrenders the control implied in the CAD and CAM processes and, as the resin seeps through the sand following the path of least resistance, embraces the fluidity and unpredictability of the materials. I hope that the work feels speculative, unstable and immediate.
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deutsch
Die Klassifikation durch das Medium oder durch die Disziplin an sich betrachte ich als veraltet, als Tod. Mit formeller Ausblindung in den Bereichen der Architecktur sowie bildenden Kuenste, betrachte ich die Welt die uns umgibt weder als schluessig noch kohärent, sondern empfinde sie als reine Collage. In ihr, suche ich nach Unvereinbarkeit, Gegensatz und dem Unreinen, um dem Klaren, dem Disziplinierten, der vorgeschriebenen Identitaet zu entkommem. Die Wechselwirkung von Prozess und Artefakt wird zum ständigen Thema in all meinen Werken, sie adressieren elementare Fragen zur menschlichen Ontologie, Ästhetik sowie zum Empirismus von Kunst und Architektur und der Definition des Objektes as sich. Viele meiner Werke sind von Abstraktion, Sterilität und Kühle geprägt. Sie hinterfragen und suggerieren die Rolle von Objektivität im Subjekt der Arbeit, der bildenden Künste im Allgemeinen, sowie unserer von Wissenschaft durchtrieben Gesellschaft. Durch ihre Performance, Materialität und Konzeption präsentieren die Arbeiten Objektivität und deuten so ein Gefühl von Reinheit und Wahrheit an. Dasselbe wird durch die absolute Subjektivität in der Kreation der Systeme, deren vorgeschriebenes Verhalten und der zugrundeliegenden Autorschaft im weiteren Sinne in Frage gestellt. Diese Zweideutigkeit wird letzen Endes durch die ausführende menschliche Hand und mechanische Geste unterstrichen. |
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english
Born in Cologne, Germany in 1983, Kai Franz studied architecture at the RWTH Aachen, Germany (2004-2006) and at the ETH Zurich, Switzerland (2006-2008). Early during his studies he started to complement his architectural education with investigations in computer science, exploring its integration in the architectural design process. |
deutsch
Kai Franz wurde 1983 in Köln geboren. Er studierte Architektur an der RWTH Aachen (2004-2006) sowie der ETH Zürich (2006-2008). Während seines Architekturstudiums setzte sich Franz intensiv mit den Computerwissenschaften auseinander und erlernte eigenständig das Programmieren. Hier erforschte er nachdrücklich die Integration der Informatik in den architektonischen Entwurfsprozess. |
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english
Today Kai Franz lives and works in Providence, RI and Berlin. He received undergraduate degrees in architecture from RWTH Aachen (2006), and ETH Zurich (2008). Early on, Kai complemented his architectural education with investigations in computer science, exploring its integration in the architectural design process. After his studies in Zurich Kai worked as a scientific researcher for ETH’s Chair for Information Architecture. In 2008 he joined the Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam, where within the framework of AMO, he sought to find an OMA-specific computational approach to design. Consequently Kai transferred to the New York office of OMA*AMO. 2009 Kai was nominated as a Fulbright Scholar. The fellowship gave him the chance to expand his critical thinking through the lens of fine art while enrolling in an MFA program at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 2011 he was awarded the KPF Traveling Fellowship and in 2012 he graduated with awards in design, outstanding professional merit, and academic excellence from Princeton University (M-Arch). Since 2007 Kai has taught in both the fine arts and architecture at ETH Zurich, Princeton University, McGill University, and RISD. Today he is an Assitant Professor for Spatial Dynamics in the division of Experimental and Foundation Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. From December 2013 – September 2014 Kai was an artist-in-residence at the Akademie Schloss Solitude, Germany. Kai’s works haven been shown in exhibitions in the U.S. and in Germany. His most recent projects include: Plopper (Dual-Axis Precision Deposition System), 2012, exhibited at the RISD Museum during the Faculty Biennial (February/March 2013), as well as Pixilerations v.9 (October 2012), the Guggenheim New York Series (2012) and the publication of his book 'Serial Nature' in 2014.
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deutsch
Kai Franz lebt und arbeitet in Providence, Rhode Island and Berlin. Franz studierte Architektur an der RWTH Aachen (Vordiplom, 2006), sowie der ETH Zürich (BSc EHTZ, 2008). Während seines Architekturstudiums setzte sich Franz intensiv mit den Computerwissenschaften auseinander und erforschte nachdrücklich die Integration der Informatik in den architektonischen Entwurfsprozess. Nach seinem Studienabschluss in Zürich, forschte Kai Franz als wissenschaftlicher Assistent am Lehrstuhl für Informationsarchitektur der ETH Zürich. 2008 arbeitete er für das Office for Metropolitan Architecture, wo er im Rahmen von AMO (OMA’s think-tank) das Potential eines OMA-spezifischen computergestützten Entwurfsansatz untersuchte. Anschliessend wechselte Franz zum New Yorker Büro und schloss sich dem Designteam von OMA*AMO an. 2009 wurde Kai Franz zum Fulbright Scholar ernannt. Seine Nominierung zum Fulbright-Stipendiaten ermöglichte ihm im Jahre 2009/10 das Studium der Bildenden Künste an der Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, USA (MFA, ohne Graduierung). 2011 erhielt Franz das KPF Traveling Fellowship. 2012 graduierte er mit Auszeichungen im Bereich Design, akademischer Exzellenz, und besonderem Engagement in der Architekturhochschule und professionellen Verdienst und von der Princeton University (M-Arch). Seit 2007 unterrichtete Kai Franz im Bereich der bildenden Künste sowie der Architektur an den Hochschulen ETH Zürich, McGill University, Montreal, Kanada, der Rhode Island School of Design und an der Princeton University. Heute hat er eine Professur im Bereich Spatial Dynamics an der Fakultät für Experimental and Foundation Studies an der Rhode Island School of Design. Von Dezember 2013 bis September 2014 war Kai Franz Stipendiat und artist-in-residence an der Akademie Schloss Solitide in Stuttgart. Seine Arbeiten wurden in zahlreichen Ausstellungen in den Vereingiten Staaten von Amerika sowie in Deutschland gezeigt. Zu Franz jüngsten Projekten gehören: Plopper (Dual-Axis Precision Deposition System), 2012, ausgestellt im RISD Museum während der Faculty Biennial (Februar/März 2013) sowie Pixilerations v.9 (Oktober 2012), die Guggenheim New York Series (2012) und die Publikation eines umfassenden Werkkataloges im Jahr 2013. |
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english
When Kai was 6, he was given a C64. Instead of the ABC he was subjected to the ASDF_JKLMO. Carving a cave out of the earth with a tablespoon, he won a neighborhood kids competition at the age of 8, very much to the discomfort of the local police. Kai’s Christmas tree at the age of 9 had his first 8MB ram personal computer (PC). As a child of divorce (his parents didn’t want him to get stuck in the “in between” again (supposedly they felt somewhat guilty about the stumble in the child’s Vorschule-relocation)), Kai was not sent to Germany’s finest High-School track (Gymnasium), but rather encountered the countries’ medium-grime and leisure of that separation while keeping it real at the Realschule. After all Kai was fortunate enough to go through the B-track – Gymnasium and education for what they call “higher means” from grade 11-13. His grades for math oscillated between 1 & 5- (A+ & F), in German he never made the B- (2-), a potential hangover from the ASDF_JKLO.
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deutsch
(bio continued..)
During his civilian service Mrs. B., one of Kai’s elderly patients, really fell for Kai. The German government did too and funded several CAAD classes and figure drawing sessions under the umbrella of continuing education. What was supposed to be redwine-studies (Vordiplom in architecture at RWTH Aachen 2006, then a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Zurich’s ETH in 2006), turned out to be true brainwashing. The consequence was an architectural play with computer science for ambitious yet loose ends. Kai then got a Fulbright to study architecture at Princeton University. Well, the folks there didn’t really accept him. Kai was first on the waitlist, but everyone accepted. Ohhops. What do you do with a Fulbright and no host institution? Kai went to RISD and studied ART in a MFA program (digital+media). Frankly, without the “+” Kai probably wouldn’t have gone to RISD. Although Kai truly enjoyed the program, Fulbright didn’t fund the 2nd year of the MFA. The boy reapplied at Princeton and this time got in – M-Arch from Princeton with several awards and truly good friendships in 2012. Since then Kai has taught at Princeton and RISD. Today he splits his time between Berlin and Providence, RI, where he is also a professor of Spatial Dynamics at RISD. He still likes to dig out caves from the earth and climb up trees.
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Kai Franz, born 1983, Cologne, Germany 2010 Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA 2009 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island, USA 2006 ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
Exhibitions: Solo Exhibitions
2017 WHILE STILL BEFORE US AFTER ALL David Winton Bell Gallery, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA Group Exhibitions
2017 VOLTA BASEL 2017 ROCKELMANN& , Basel, Switzerland
Awards, Honors and Fellowships: 2013 Akademie Schloss Solitude Residency Fellowship, Stuttgart, Germany
Residencies: 2013-15 Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany, Atelier-Stipendium, 1 year artist-in-residence
Academic and Research Appointments: 2013 Assistant Professor, Rhode Island School of Design, Division of Foundation Studies, Providence, RI, USA 2013 Adjunct Professor, Rhode Island School of Design, Division of Foundation Studies, Providence, RI, USA 2013 Adjunct Professor, Rhode Island School of Design, Division of Foundation Studies, Providence, RI, USA 2013 Adjunct Professor, Rhode Island School of Design, Digital+Media Department, Providence, RI, USA 2012 Part-time Faculty / Lecturer, Princeton University, School of Architecture, Princeton, NJ, USA 2012 Teaching Assistant, Brown University, Visual Arts Department, Providence, RI, USA 2012 Teaching Assistant, Princeton University, School of Architecture, Princeton, NJ, USA 2011 Teaching Assistant, Princeton University, School of Architecture, Princeton, NJ, USA 2010 Instructor, Rhode Island School of Design, Digital+Media Department, Providence, RI, USA 2009 Part-time Faculty / Guest Lecturer, ETH Zurich, Chair for Information Architecture, Zurich, Switzerland 2008 Workshop Leader, McGill University, School of Architecture, Montreal, Canada 2008 Scientific Research Specialist, ETH Zurich, Chair for Information Architecture, Prof. G. Schmitt, 2006 Assistant Instructor, Lehrstuhl für Baukonstruktion III, RWTH Aachen, Prof. V. Nikolic, Aaachen, Germany 2012 Guest-Critic, For reviews at the following institutions (graduate and undergraduate level):
Professional Experience: 2008 Junior Architect, OMA*AMO, Office For Metropolitan Architecture, New York, NY, USA 2008 Researcher, OMA*AMO, Office For Metropolitan Architecture, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2004 Internship, Hochtief Construction AG, Cologne, Germany 2004 Internship, Schilling Architekten, Cologne, Germany
Publications: 2013 Kai Franz: Selected Works, C.M. Stache Press, USA/Germany, Artist Catalog, 190 Pages, Editon of 200 2013 Digital Craft in Color and the Making by Carinna Parraman Black Dog Publisher London, UK 2008 Closing the Gap: Information Models in Contemporary Design Practice AD Architectural Design 2008 OMA*Metrics: An OMA-specifc Approach to Computational Design Internal Publication
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INTERVIEW / STUDIO VISIT: CRITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS / ESSAYS in Serial Nature: Kai Franz in conversation with Martin Beck. The conversation took place on March 10, 2016 in Berlin as part of the solo exhibition The Particles Fell Silent at ROCKELMANN&. |
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