As a multidisciplinary artist, Frank Geßner researches on an expanded concept of animation, based on classical and experimental arts, in order to develop new formats and transmit artistic heritage. In his interdisciplinary work, he is particularly interested in the connection between visual, performing, and time-based arts and their relationship to architecture, sculpture, and image, as well as to poetry, sound and language. This opens up new critically necessary areas of thought for artistic practice and theory formation. Similar to basic research, this expanded concept of art enables the acquisition of knowledge and develops new forms, combinations, perspectives, and models.
Frank Geßner was born in 1965 in Würzburg, Germany. He studied Free Art, graduating in Sculpture and Painting, at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, and completed his studies as a Meisterschüler at Berlin University of the Arts. Since 2009 he has been professor for Theory and Practice of Visual Arts at today’s Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Visiting professorships at Berlin University of the Arts, China Academy of Art, Jilin Animation Institute Changchun, China; visiting artist at CALARTS, California Institute of Arts, Los Angeles, USA. Lectures, workshops, screenings, and presentations in Germany and abroad:
ARCHIVE
atelierberlinproduction(at)mail.de
PROJECTS
VOYAGEUR DE L’IMAGE/WEGE ZUM BILD/TOWARDS THE IMAGE
- Satz_TESTE SANS FIN: ALIAS YEDERBECK
- Satz_DSDKBM: UNTITLED SHOT & POETRY
- Satz_FOOTNOTES: YEDERBECK’S BIOPIC
- Satz_INTERFACE: TESTELAB & GUESTS
Text, drawing, printmaking, photography, collage, painting, plastics, sculpture, video, film, animation, sound, objet trouvé, readymade, and multimedia archive, since 1994, (work in progress)
EXPANDED ANIMATION WORLDS: TESTELAB & GUESTS
Multimedia installation and virtual reality project, (work in progress)
A SPHERICAL BOOK IN PROGRESS: EXPANDED ANIMATION WOR(L)DS
Web project, fulldome projection, (work in progress)
ALPHABET UNPLUGGED: FROM A TO Z IN PROGRESS
Multi-channel movie, smart installation, (work in progress)
FIN … ES WAR EINMAL/FIN … ONCE UPON A TIME
Artist’s book, 2022-2024
GLOBE PLAYHOUSE SPACELAB
Artistic research masterclass, symposium, video essays, virtual exhibition, 2020
URSONETT
Crown of sonnets 14 + 1 magistrale, 26:02 min, 15-channel movie, smart installation or single-channel movie 01:44 min, loop, 2016/2020
FROM ASSISI AFTER PADUA
Sequential art, paper work, preparation of the essay film, 2017-19
EXPANDEDADA VINCI
Site-specific installation, 04:13 min, single-channel movie, loop, 2016/2018
3D-MASTER-SONNET
Objet trouvé/readymade, 15-parts assemblage, 2016
DADA VINCI
Non-happening slide show, single-channel movie, 04:13 min, loop, 2016
ALIAS YEDERBECK REDUX
AYR_NIGHT & DAY (SATELLITE I+II)
04:46 and 02:45 min, dual-channel movie
AYR_PALLADIO MODEL (PROTOTYPE DD)
12-channel movie sculpture
AYR_VIRTUAL PANORAMA INSTALLATION!
63:41 min, single-channel movie
AYR_QU’EST-CE QUE MONSIEUR TESTE?
26:26 min, single-channel movie
Expanded Animation Cinema, App, VR, 2011-2016
#FGWGBBT0001-0028
Sequential art, mixed media, digital work, 2014-15
BERLIN OPEN STUDIO, VOLUME I
Sequential art, mixed media, work on paper, 2012-13
ALIAS YEDERBECK
Entertainer – Flaneur – Spectators – Actors – Dissolution – Projection – Anima Techne – Transcendental Animation – Happy End – Doppelgänger – Reminder – The End
63:00 min, 12-channel movie
QU’EST-CE QUE MONSIEUR TESTE?
26:00 min, single-channel movie
Expanded Animation Cinema, Installation, 2006-2011
MY FAVOURITE FILM – MY LOVELIEST SEQUENCE
Storyboard analysis, 2001-2004
ÜBER-MALEN UND ZEICHNEN
Documentation, 2001
FRÜHSTÜCK IM ATELIER
Action/performance, 2000
GESCHICHTE(N) DER BILDKUNST
Painting study, 1992-1999
DAS DREISSIGSTE JAHR
Drawing, 1994/95
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN
Mixed media, work on paper, 1985-1992