Wolfgang Ganter

Wolfgang Ganter’s specialty is making art out of bacteria. The base materials are slides and color negatives that have been subjected to swift-motion decay and corrosion: Bacteria cultures and chemicals rearrange the surfaces of the slides, disintegrating forms and colors to bring to life new, formerly unseen elements. Fastened by drying, up to 2000 detailed pictures are taken, then lastly realigned again into one piece, the large-format works are brought into final existence. Working with bacteria means that the final results will, to some extent, always be out of Ganter’s control; their likeness could only exist naturally in the Bermuda Triangle of art, science, and narrative history.

Born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1978, Ganter currently lives and works in Berlin, where he is represented by Reiter Gallery. Most recently, he has had solo shows in Stockholm, Berlin, Lisbon, and New York City. His work is also included in permanent collections such as the Museum der Moderne Salzburg in Austria and the Städtische Museen Heilbronn in Germany.

Courtesy of Reiter Gallery