Galerie Johann Widauer

Oliver Laric’s multimedia work engages with themes of open-source mass media, the relationship between past and present, digitalism and globalization. In his work Laric often re-imagines classic Greek and Roman sculpture, through a 3D scanning process and through producing massive polyurethane and 3D printed casts to reproduce the original simultaneously. Consequently, the work of Oliver Laric explores the consumption and production of sculptures and imagery in the age of the internet through various mediums. Modifying pre-existing photographs, animations and sculptures allow for questions of authorship and originality to be in the center of his work. Laric presents that which we might consider being unique as disturbingly ordinary, underlining the uncertainties of the internet age.

Oliver Laric (b. 1981, Innsbruck, Austria) lives and works in Berlin. Recent solo exhibitions include, amongst others, S.M.A.K, Ghent, BE (2021), Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, MI, US (2019); Kunstverein Braunschweig, DE (2018); Schinkel Pavilion, Berlin, DE (2017); Secession, Vienna, AT (2016) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, US (2016). In addition to numerous group exhibitions in international institutions, the artist has also been invited to the Biennales of Seoul Media City, KR (2021), São Paulo, BR (2018) and Liverpool, GB (2016) and to the Triennials of Guangzhou, CN (2018) and the New Museum, New York, NY, US (2015).

Founded by Johann Widauer in the 1990s, Galerie Johann Widauer first opened its doors in 1997 at the Trientlgasse in Innsbruck. In 2005, the gallery moved to its current location at the Erlerstrasse 13, locally renowned with its iconic red postmodern facade, and its remodeled interior space by the architect Hanno Schlögl. The program started with an exhibition by Lawrence Weiner in March 2005. Galerie Johann Widauer represents Austrian as well as international contemporary artists such as; Thomas Bayrle, Sunah Choi, Peles Empire, Alfons Egger, Heinz Gappmayr, Manuel Gorkiewicz, Georg Herold, Herbert Hinteregger, Richard Hoeck, Anna Jermolaewa, Hubert Kiecol, Martin Kippenberger, Peter Kogler, Oliver Laric, John Miller, Matt Mullican, Walter Niedermayr, David Rych, Nikolaus Schletterer, Hubert Schmalix, Beatrix Sunkovsky, Ernst Trawöger, Lawrence Weiner, Herwig Weiser, Alexander Wolff, Heimo Zobernig, whose work vary within genres and mediums. Since its foundation, the main focus of the gallery has been to support the artists throughout and beyond the exhibition process in executing and materializing their particular visions and concepts.