CV
Born in Sluiskil, 1973
Lives and works in Amsterdam, Brussels and Kinshasa
Education
2013 Yale World Fellow
2010-2015 Phd Research, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Gent, Belgium
2010 ISCP, New York, United States
1999-2000 Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, Belgium
1993-1996 Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1992-1993 Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten, Gent, Belgium
1991-1992 Political Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Awards
2015 Witteveen+Bos-prijs voor Kunst+Techniek
2013 Cultuurfonds Documentaire Stipendium, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds
2010 Cultuurprijs Vlaanderen
2010 Filmfonds Stimulansprijs 2010
2009 Prix Rubans Canards
Solo exhibitions
2017
Sculpture Center, New York, USA
2016
Congolese Plantation Workers Art League (with the Institute for Human Activities), Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, UK
2015
On the Institute for Human Activities, Bergkerk Deventer, The Netherlands
Produktion (with the Institute for Human Activities), Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder, Vienna, Austria
A Lucky Day (with the Institute for Human Activities), KOW, Berlin, Germany
The Matter of Critique (with the Institute for Human Activities), KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, Germany
A new settlement (with the Institute for Human Activities), Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2014
The Box, LA, US
2011
Renzo Martens, Kunsthalle Goteborg, Goteborg
2009
Episode 3, Wilkinson Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2008
Episode 3, Stedelijk Museum Bureau, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2005
Episode 1, Vtape, Toronto, Canada
2004
Episode 1, Marres Centre for Contemporary Culture, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2003
Episode 1, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1999
Rien ne va plus, De Merodestraat, Brussels, Belgium
Group exhibitions
2018
NAP, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (upcoming)
2016
Bread and Roses: Artists and the Class Divide, Renzo Martens presents: Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs des Plantations Congolaises, Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw, Poland
2014
Confessions of the Imperfect, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Artes Mundi 6, Wales's National Museum of Art, Wales
Manifesto! An Alternative History of Photography, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Switzerland
Evil Clowns, Hartware MedienKunstverein, Dortmund, Germany
'9 artists', MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
‘Meer macht’, (curated by Hans den Hartog Jager), Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, The Netherlands
19th Biennale of Sydney: ‘You Imagine What You Desire’, Sydney, Australia
2013
‘Ghost in the system - scenarios for resistance’, 5th Moscow Biennale of Comtemporary Art, Moscow, Russia
‘Space of Exception’, Artplay, 5th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow, Russia
Wiels, (with the Institute for Human Activities), Brussels, Belgium
‘Either/Or’, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, Germany and: Nikolaj Kunsthal, Copenhagen, DenmarkLubumbashi Biennale, (a project by Tate Modern) (with the Institute for Human Activities), Lubumbashi
‘9 Artists’ (with the Institute for Human Activities), Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, US
Lubumbashi Biennale, (a project by Tate Modern) (with the Institute for Human Activities), Lubumbashi, Congo
‘Blijven Kijken | Ce qui nous regarde | Dropouts’, Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
2012
‘Forget Fear’, 7th Berlin Biennial, (with the Institute for Human Activities), Berlin
‘Models for Taking Part’, (curated by Juan Gaitan), Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatoon
‘A Series of Navigations’, The Model, Sligo, Ireland
2011
‘Le Peuple qui Manque’, Le Bal, Paris, France
‘Models for Taking Part’, Hart House, University of Toronto, Canada
‘Radical Ruptures’, Kunsthalle Charlottenburg, Copenhagen (with a lecture by TJ Demos on Episode 3), Denmark
‘All that Fits, the Aesthetics of Journalism’, (curated by Alfredo Cramerotti and Simon Sheikh), Quad, Derby, UK
‘A Film Cycle’, Nomas Foundation, Rome
‘Models for Taking Part’, (curated by Juan Gaitan), Presentation house Gallery, Vancouver
‘Antiphotojournalism’, (curated by Tom Keenan and Carles Guerra), Foam, Amsterdam
‘My War, Participation in an Age of Conflict’, Kingston, Canada
‘Alias’, (curated by Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin), Krakow Photo Month, Krakow
2010
‘Monumentalism— History and National Identity in Contemporary Art: Proposal for Municipal Art Acquisitions 2010’, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
‘Antiphotojournalism’, (curated by Carles Guerra and Thomas Keenan ), La Vireinna, Barcelona, Spain
‘Human Condition’, (curated by Adam Budak), Kunsthaus Graz, Space02, Graz, Austria
‘6th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art’, (curated by Katrin Rhomberg), Berlin, Germany
‘All that is solid melts into the air’, (Curated by Miguel Amado), Museu Colecção Berardo, Lisbon, Portugal
‘MyWar (Identity and Appropriation Under War Condition)’, FACT, Liverpool, UK
‘Self as disappearance’, Centre d'art contemporain, La synagogue de Delme, France
‘Morality Act III; And the moral of the story is...’, Witte de With, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2009
‘Recente Aanwinsten’, De Hallen, Haarlem, The Netherlands
‘Rien ne va plus’, Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
‘Le Temps de la Fin’, Espace d'art contemporain La Tolerie, Clermont-Ferrand, France
‘Endurance (Daring Feats of Risk, Survival and Perseverance)’, Abington Art Center, Philadelphia, United States
‘Exploring the age of Repression’, Pavilion, Bucharest, Romania
‘Images Recalled’, Fotofestival Ludwigshafen, Germany
‘Until the End of the World’, AMP Gallery, Athens, Greece
‘Monunentalismus (One's History is Another's Misery)’, Autocenter, Berlin, Germany
‘Muhka Media’, Muhka, Antwerp, Belgium
‘Hors Pistes’ (filmscreening Episode 3), Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Brussels, Belgium
2008
‘Matter of Fact; Aftermath (Capacete/A Gentil Carioca / Galeria Vermelho)’, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Brussels Biennial, Brussels, Belgium
‘Manifesta 7; Matter of Fact (The European Biennial of Contemporary Art)’, Rovereto, Italy
‘L'Art en Europe (Experience Pommery #5)’, Domaine Pommery, Reims, France
‘Neither Either Nor Or’, Wurttembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart, Germany
‘To Burn Oneself with Oneself: the Romantic Damage Show’, De Appel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2007
‘Modern Solitude’, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
‘Brave New World’, Cobra Museum, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
‘Nothing Else Matters’, Museum de Hallen, Haarlem, The Netherlands
‘Speakers’, Aeroplastics Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
‘Magazine Project’, Documenta Halle, Documenta XII, Kassel, Germany
2006
‘A Picture of War is not War’, Wilkinson Gallery, London, United Kingdom
‘Excess’, Z'33, Hasselt, Belgium
‘An Evening with..’, Platform Garanti, Istanbul, Turkey
2005
‘I Love Video Art’, Musee dArt Contemporain, Strassbourg, France
‘Undercurrents’, Basis Actuele Kunst (BAK), Utrecht, The Netherlands
‘Reprise’, Marres Centre for Contemporary Culture, Maastricht, The Netherlands
‘Inner and Outer Worlds’, Argos festival, Argos, Brussels, Belgium
‘Soft Target’, Basis Actuele Kunst, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2004
‘Constructing Visions’, TENT, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
‘Mediamatic Supersalon’, Mediamatic, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
‘Plug-In’, Futura, Prague, The Czech Republic
‘Yugoslav Biennial’, Vrsac, Yugoslavia
‘Monitoring’, Kunstverein Kassel, Kassel, Germany
IDFA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2003
‘Urban Dramas’, De Singel, Antwerp, Belgium
‘Etablissements den Face’, Brussels, Belgium
‘Blich zum Nachbarn (Kunstfilmbiennale)’, Cologne, Germany
2002
‘De Avonden’, De Appel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Selected screenings, symposia and events
2014
Screening Episode 3 and conversation (on the Institute for Human Activities), CUNY Center for the Humanities, NY, US
Talk, Renzo Martens: More news on the Institute for Human Activities , Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2013
On the Institute for Human Activities, CPH:DOX, Copenhagen
Nina Möntmann interviews Renzo Martens, Iaspis, Stockholm
Off-site panel: Art and Media in Congo, Congo in Harlem Film Festival, New York
On the Institute for Human Activities, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
On the Institute for Human Activities, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid
On the Institute for Human Activities, Hebel am Ufer, Berlin
On the Institute for Human Activities, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
On the Institute for Human Activities, University College, London
On the Institute for Human Activities, Wiels, Brussels
Battles Of Images, Contemporary Image Collective (CIC), Cairo
Interdisciplinary Seminar: T.J. Demos considers Episode III, Cooper Union School of Art, New York
The Politics of the Social in Contemporary Art, (with the Institute for Human Activities) Tate Modern, London
2012
Registration of the Opening Seminar of the Institute for Human Activities, Closing event 7th Berlin Biennial, KunstWerke, Berlin
On the Institute for Human Activities, Staedelschule, Frankfurt
On the Institute for Human Activities, Yale University, New Haven
2011
Episode 3, The Thinking Eye, Kunstverein, Milan
Episode 3, a conversation between Stefan Jonsson and Renzo Martens, House of Win Win, Goteborg
Episode 3, A conversation between Yehoshua Simon and Renzo Martens, Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, Israel.
Episode 1 and 3, A debate with Lieven de Cauter and Ruben de Roo, Ritz, Brussels
2010
Capitalism and the Aesthetics of Knowledge in the 21st century, Kunsthalle Athena, Athens
Image Mouvement, Centre d'Art Contemporain, Geneve
12 Gestures, Screening and Discussion around Episode 3, with Mathieu Abonnenc, Betonsalon, Fondation Kadist, Paris
Do We All Have Strength Enough to Endure the Misfortunes of Others?, A Conversation about Episode 3, with Jennifer Allen, Felix Ensslin, Renzo Martens, Ana Teixeira Pinto and Dieter Roelstraete, Salon Populaire, Berlin
Episode 3, Screening, Liebaert Projects, Foundation for Contemporary Art, Kortrijk
Episode 3, Screenings and Discussions in Kinshasa, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles and Halle de la Gombe.
Episode 3, A Screening and Conversation with Renzo Martens by T.J. Demos and Tamar Garb, Tate Modern, London
Uneven Geographies, curated by T.J. Demos and Alex Farquharson, Screening and Conversation with Alfredo Cramerotti and Renzo Martens, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
The Hopelessness of Contemporary Art, Symposium around Episode 3, with TJ Demos, Hilde Van Gelder, Carles Guerra, Thomas Keenan, Toma Muteba Luntumbue, Renzo Martens, The Lieven Gevaert Research Centre for Photography, Leuven
Eric van Lieshout, Renzo Martens and Hans de Hartog-Jager at Museum de Hallen, Haarlem
2009
‘Hors Pistes’ (filmscreening Episode 3), Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Brussels, Belgium
Globaliseringslezing, A Conversation with Jos de Putter and Renzo Martens, Felix Meritis, Amsterdam
Episode 3, A Conversation with Jan Ritsema and Renzo Martens , Kaaitheater,Theaterfestival, Brussels
Episode 3, A Conversation with Dana Linsen, Renzo Martens and Joris Luyendijk, Ketelhuis, Amsterdam
The Future of Picturing the World: Filming and Imaging in a Global Era. A discussion with Lilie Chouliaraki, Max Houghton, Renzo Martens, Julian Stallabrass, London School of Economics, London
Episode 3, A Conversation between JJ Charlesworth and Renzo Martens, Wilkinson Gallery, London
Lost and Found at the New Museum, New York
Lapdogs of the Bourgeoisie, (curated by Nav Haq and Tirdad Zolghadr), Arnolfini, Bristol
Hors Pistes, and Collussions, Screenings and Debates, Centre Pompidou, Paris
2008
Episode 3, A Conversation with Marc Nash and Renzo Martens, Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam
A Prior # 16, A Conversation with Els Roelandt and Renzo Martens, Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten, Gent
Joris Luyendijk debat, LUX, Nijmegen
IDFA (opening night film), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2007
A Night with Renzo Martens, (curated by Krist Gruijthuijsen), Platform Garanti, Istanbul
2000
Muhka Media, Antwerp, Belgium
Selected Film and Theatre Festivals
2009
CPH:Dox, Copenhagen
Anasy Festival, Abu Dhabi
Filmfestival, Guadalajara
Leeds Filmfestival, Leeds
Atlantic Mirror, Rio de Janeiro
One World Filmfestival, Bukarest
Prirzen Docufest, Kosovo
Salem Filmfestival
Tarifa African filmfestival
Vermont Filmfestival
Jersey Amnesty Filmfestival
Doc Lounge Sweden Docpoint
Helsinki International Filmfestival
Guadalajara Filmfestival
Malta Festival, Poznan
Alkantara Festival, Lisbon
2008
Raccontare el Vero, Parma
Aarhus Filmfestival
African Filmfestival, Milan
Bergen Filmfestival
Nederlands Filmfestival, Utrecht
Jerusalem Filmfestival
Talinn Black Nights Filmfestival
New Zealand filmfestival
Planet Doc review, Warzawa
Docville festival, Leuven
Alba International Filmfestival
Dockenama, Maputo
MiradasDoc, Tenerife
Rencontres Internationales du Film Documentaire, Montreal
Planet Doc review, Warzawa
DocHouse, London
SilverDocs, Washington DC
HotDocs, Toronto
Thessaloniki Documentary Filmfestival, Thessaloniki
Theaterfestival, Kaaitheater, Brussels
Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Brussels
A Sense of Belonging, Stadsschouwburg Rotterdam