About the artist
info@zyko78.com
Zyko78 (*1979 in Halle/Germany) works with tools that are as unconventional as his style: spray cans, screwdrivers and cotton buds. Zyko78 draws on long traditions: from Chinese porcelain to legendary Delft ceramics to contemporary experiments. He translates them into a visual vocabulary that is equally influenced by graffiti, ink painting and urban energy.
Zyko78 completed his master’s degree in art history and East Asian art history at Humboldt University and Freie University in Berlin. After that the artist spent seven years in Beijing, China. Here, he wrote about the development of the Chinese graffiti and street art scene. He was in close contact with young Chinese artists. Through his studies of East Asian art history, he developed a passion for Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and ink painting. These influenced his own work.
Zyko78 has participated in various urban art projects, including Walllords Shanghai, 40Grad Urbanart Festival Düsseldorf, Hafendampf Essen, and Urban Nature Hannover. The artist lives and works in Germany.
- Born 1979 in Halle/Saale, Germany
- 2009 Master’s degree in art history and East Asian art history from Humboldt University Berlin and Freie University Berlin
- 2006 – 2009 Gallery assistant/exhibition planning for galleries in Berlin
- 2009 – 2015 Living and working in Beijing, China
- 2010 Planning and realisation of the exhibition „Growing Up with Kirsten Boie“ for the Goethe-Institut and the Central Academy of Fine Arts Beijing (CAFA) in Beijing, China.
- 2012 Guest writer for „Crossing China: Land of the Rising Art Scene“ by Gérard Goodrow (editor), DAAB publishing house, 2014.
- 2015 Interviewee on the topic of chinese art for an edition of „Insight China“ on CCTV News, China Central Television (CCTV)
- 2016 Relocation to Germany and working professional in the art trade
- 2024 Exhibition at „Kunstraum j3fm“ in Hannover, Germany
- Since 2024 represented by Kunsthaus ARTES Hannover/Berlin, Germany
About my work
Tiles – a unique surface
I have always been inspired by the different surfaces on which graffiti in urban spaces is created. The way paint or ink react and appear on walls and tiles in urban architecture differs from the aesthetics of a canvas in the studio.
Experiments are fun
I rarely work with conventional brushes. Instead, I use squeegees, rags, screwdrivers, eyeliner or even cotton buds as tools. It is the material experimentation that interests me. The changing application and removal of layers of paint creates peculiar optical effects, from which delicate or transient objects such as vases and flowers emerge.
Inspiration
Informel and its role models, Asian ink painting and calligraphy with their gestural, chance-influenced aesthetics serve as inspiration for me.
Pleased to meet you:
