Tom Groll

INTERFERENCE Project: What is the Difference?
A corner of Saida Ajoula street is turned to a bucolic environment of the countryside.
The projection is inspired on an anecdote of the artist’s childhood, when he questioned the idea of diversity by looking at the cows grazing in the German meadows. In this work, the peaceful co-existence of black and brown cows -that live together irrespective of skin colour and shape- has been used as an allegory of the relevance of religious differences in everyday life.

INTERFERENCE Site: Open Space (rue Saida Ajoula, Tunis)

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: Dealing with light is dealing with energy, too.
I have been working with Bettina [Pelz] for such a long time that I think that I had no choice to say “no” when she asked me to join INTERFERENCE. Now, I am more than happy to be part of this project. Meeting with all the team in Tunis in May 2016, I felt this irresistible energy that surfaced when we tested the first projection works. To walk from site to site, to see the interaction of the historic sites, the contemporary technology and the artistic materials of the colleagues was full of fun surprises and inspiration. Meeting the Medina people who helped with tools and electricity made me aware of the human and social qualities which are present in the Tunisian culture. I am looking forward to share more time and experiences with all the accomplices of INTERFERENCE.

[Photos: Tom Groll.]

ARTISTIC APPROACH
In his artistic research, Tom Groll focuses on the experience of continuous transformation. His research revolves mainly around the opposites realms of what can be perceived by human senses and the imagination; his goal being to capture reality revealing unspotted issues.
Actually, he started experimenting his personal approach on light art when he was completing the project Illuminare Zonen (Illuminated Zones) in 2001. It was then that, while he was carrying out the scholarship “Märkisches Stipendium”, he started exploring how to integrate light to artistic creation. Since then, he has been working on light installations at both venues and in public space.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2016 | Kunstverein Montez with FLUX | Frankfurt (de)
2015| LICHTUNGEN | Hildesheim (de)
2014| GLOW | Eindhoven (nl)
2011| Eisteddfod Festival | Wrexham (uk)
2009| Narrcaje (with Bettina Pelz) | Gdansk (pl)

DEVELOPMENT
Since 2002 | Regular curatorial activity | Mainly in Germany and EU
Since 1992 | Regular exhibition activity | Mainly Germany and EU
1989 – 1995| Studies in Fine Arts and Visual Communication | Cologne and Duesseldorf (de)
1985 – 1989| Apprenticeship as a carpenter | Garmisch-Partenkirchen (de)
1964| Born
[More]

LINKS
Tom Groll | Web