User:Thomas Thaler/sandbox

Golif is an Austrian Vienna-based artist. He graduated from University of Applied Arts Vienna in 2016. He is a representative of Austrian street and urban art.

Approach
His pieces are characterized by their distinct and expressive line work.

This leads to a particular association with East Asian calligraphy aesthetics or even dark themed graphic novels. His almost excusive depiction of iconic blank figures and features seem to pose as a token for the unknown as well as anonymous parts of a metropolis. Components which both Golif as well as the viewer can and does encounter in these cities. “A lot of people can be observed, but not be seen beyond their facades.”

Golif's opinions on being seen from a street art point of view seem ambivalent. Even though he partially acts within the spaces which are traditionally attributed to street art, his artistic affiliation fits a more classical definition. He works within a spectrum of graphical, in painting and even sculptural approaches which cannot sufficiently be encompassed by the term “Street-Art”. He does however interface with street artists in his particular interest and rendition of urban spheres. In an interview with the daily Austrian newspaper STANDARD he states, “It’s a bruning desire of mine to transform the city.”

Golif's technical approach is defined by its broad variety. A plethora of graphical interpretations of his icons on cardboard as well as humoristic over drawings of partly very exotic print material can be found as part of his Oeuvre. A more classical side to his work are the many canvas pieces dominated by a strong concise usage of ink. Though his works seem to live off of their precision and whilst some are kept in a neutral black and white mode he does operate with an intense application of vivid colours in many of his paintings. The more colossal projects which are distributed in public spaces are products of brushes, painter rolls as well as Airless devices.

Works
"The Observer", his most elaborate work so far can be found in Vienna. It’s a ground piece implemented in 2016, covering an area the size of approximately six football fields. Golif used 5 tons of paint in the making. While on scene only black and white areas of varying sizes appear, the sheer vastness of the piece renders it fully perceivable only from the sky.

A large scale evolution of his iconised figures can be found in a 2.500 m2 wall painting on an Agricultural storage unit in Korneuburg, Lower Austria. In 2017 Golif crafted two tall towering characters onto two sides of the concrete tower, built in the 70ies, characterizing the area of the surrounding landscape. In contrast to “The Observer” these figures are animated by their steadfastness and vivid colouring. Four weeks of labour and at least 1.5 tons of paint went into creating this piece. It can be seen from A22 highway.

Two further interventions with the public space can be found framing the Wiener Gürtel. In 2019 Golif created two murals, each covering 327 m2. Located on the edges of the 15. and 17. district the now colourful and eye-catching house walls interrupt the densely built on concrete masses of the area. Through their prominent placement the pieces are visible to all participants of the street- and city life.

Other notable Projects
 * Anschützgasse, Vienna, 2015
 * Rochusmarkt, Vienna, 2018
 * Sonnenallee-Hermannplatz, Berlin, 2018
 * Naschmarkt, Vienna, 2018
 * Hörtnagelstrasse, Tyrol, 2019
 * Aspern, Vienna, 2020
 * Ottilie-Bondy-Promenade, Vienna, 2020
 * Illustrations for the November issue of santementale.fr, 2020
 * Breitenfurther Straße, Vienna, 2021.The object received the architecture award „gebaut 2021“
 * “The giant of Santre” hotel project, Brixen, 2022

Exhibitions

 * 2014 Solo Exhibition, KMG Art Gallery/Vienna
 * 2015 Solo Exhibition, Tojner Collection/Vienna
 * 2015 Skulpturengarten Summerstage with Hans Kupelwieser/Vienna
 * 2015 Young Art Auction by Sothebys in the Albertina/Vienna
 * 2016 Goldenes Quartier/Vienna
 * 2016 "Golif Observed", Solo Exhibition, KMG Art Gallery/Vienna
 * 2017 Group Exhibition, E/AB Fair, The Tunnel/New York
 * 2017 Creau Advent. Tag der Abschaffung der Sklaverei/Vienna
 * 2018 Solo Exhibition, Galerie LeContainer/Nice
 * 2018 "Street Dreams" Group Exhibition, Le Docks Village/Marseille
 * 2018 Group Exhibition, Galerie LeContainer/St. Tropez
 * 2018 "GOLIF", Loos Haus/Vienna
 * 2018 Luxembourg Art Fair/Luxembourg
 * 2018 St. Art/Strasbourg
 * 2018 YIA Art Fair/Paris
 * 2019 Antibes Art Fair/Antibes
 * 2019 "GOLIF", KMG Art Gallery/Vienna
 * 2019 "Take Over", Group Exhibition Wien Museum/Vienna
 * 2019 "Golif Solo Show", Galerie LeContainer/Nice
 * 2019 St. Art/Strasbourg
 * 2020 Installation at Thiem's Seven tennis tournament/Kitzbühel
 * 2021: "SOLO Show", Take a Butcher’s Gallery/Düsseldorf
 * 2021: "In Situ", Galerie LeContainer /Aix-en-Provence
 * 2022: "Finding Forte", Group Exhibition, designforum Wien/Vienna

Further reading/books

 * Thomas Grötschnig. Street Art Guide Vienna. Vienna Murals, Wien 2017.
 * Thomas Grötschnig. Street Art Guide Vienna. Volume 2. Vienna Murals, Streetartbooks.eu, Wien 2017, ISBN 978-3-9504716-3-2.
 * Karina Karadensky, Christina Koblitz, Take Over. Vienna Street Art Now, Verlag für Moderne Kunst, Wien 2019, ISBN 978-3-9033204-1-3.