Heinz Mack, a pivotal German artist born on March 8, 1931, is celebrated for his foundational role in the ZERO movement, which he co-founded with Otto Piene in 1957. His innovative work, which spans op art, light art, and kinetic art, has been showcased at significant art events such as documenta in 1964 and 1977, and he notably represented Germany at the Venice Biennale in 1970.
Originating from the quaint town of Lollar, Germany, Mack's artistic journey commenced at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where he honed his craft from 1950 to 1956. In 1957, alongside Otto Piene, Mack initiated a series of "Abendausstellungen" (evening exhibitions) in their Düsseldorf studio. These gatherings marked the inception of the ZERO group, with Mack, Piene, and Günther Uecker at its core, eventually leading to the formation of the international ZERO movement. This avant-garde collective included luminaries such as Yves Klein, Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni, and Jean Tinguely, who collectively explored new artistic expressions and mediums.
In the early 1960s, Mack, alongside Gotthard Graubner, contributed to the art education scene as a teacher at the Lessing Gymnasium in Düsseldorf. The year 1964 was significant for Mack, Piene, and Uecker as they presented the "ZERO Lichtraum (Hommage á Lucio Fontana)" at documenta in Kassel, further cementing their influence in the art world. Mack's exploration of artistic frontiers continued with a sojourn in New York from 1964 to 1966, culminating in a solo exhibition at the Howard Wise Gallery in 1966.
Mack's oeuvre is not limited to his monumental outdoor sculptures; he has also crafted an array of smaller, both static and kinetic, works. An example is "Light Dynamo #2" from 1966, housed in the Honolulu Museum of Art, showcasing his fascination with movement and light. Since 1991, Mack has ventured into the realm of painting, creating vibrant, abstract works in acrylic.
The year 1970 was a hallmark year for Mack, as he was appointed visiting professor in Osaka, Japan, and represented Germany at the Venice Biennale alongside Günther Uecker, Georg Karl Pfahler, and Thomas Lenk. For the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, he conceived an "illuminated "Wasserwolke" (Water Cloud), and in the same year, he was commissioned to create a monumental 230 ft tall sculpture for the United Nations headquarters in New York, a project that, regrettably, was not realized. Mack's contributions to the art world, characterized by his innovative use of light and motion, have left an indelible mark on contemporary art.
