There is an element of self-portrait in every picture by Georg Gatsas. His photographs of landscapes and people give insight into his life and the artists and visual world that shape his practice. His approach is in the spirit of Joseph Beuys's concept of Social Sculpture, which says that art is all around us and implicates the people, places and things that are in our environment as artistic co-conspirators. His subjects are often highly visually complex; his photographs capture a certain energy inherent in his subjects through color, composition and form. Often a lone figure in the night going places where few dare to go, Gatsas is the ultimate fly on the wall; easy going and constantly approaching the people and places that cross his path as major events, his strategy highlights the fact that history is written by those who care enough to observe, document and record.
James Fuentes, New York City, 2007
Born in Grabs in the Swiss Rhine Valley, 1978
Lives and works in Waldstatt, Switzerland and the rest of the world
Awards and Grants
2012
Atelierstipendium London, Zuger Kulturstiftung Landis & Gyr, Switzerland
2010
Werkbeitrag des Kanton Appenzell AR, Switzerland European Newspaper Award (Sektion Special Pages, Portrait: Dorothee Elmiger, WoZ)
2009
Atelierstipendium New York des Bundesamtes für Kultur, Switzerland
2008
Werkbeitrag der Stadt St.Gallen, Switzerland
2007
Swiss Art Award, Switzerland
2006
Werkbeitrag des Kanton St.Gallen, Switzerland
2005
Binz39 Zürich, Atelierstipendium, Switzerland
Werkbeitrag der Stadt St. Gallen, Switzerland
Förderpreis der Internationalen Bodensee-Konferenz: Austria, Germany, Switzerland
2004
Förderbeitrag der Stadt St.Gallen, Switzerland
Collections
Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA
Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Switzerland, bought by Kanton St. Gallen, Switzerland Kanton St. Gallen, Switzerland Stadt St. Gallen, Switzerland Kanton Zurich, Switzerland FRAC Nord - Pas de Calais, France
Kunsthaus Zurich, Switzerland Soho House Art Collection, New York, USA