about Daniel Kirsch

Berlin-born NZ artist Daniel Kirsch lives and works in the township of Coromandel. His urban German background and extensive experience of (rural) New Zealand life inform much of his work. Being a citizen of a country that he hasn’t grown up in gives Kirsch a unique perspective and astute awareness of the subtle nuances inherent to its society, cultures and traditions, and he keeps a keen eye on the NZ way of life, our customs, heritage, habits and values.

Kirsch’s work often invites viewers to challenge their established viewpoints by offering a different and often unconventional perspective, and to take a fresh look at the validity of accepted conventions. This can span as wide as from the relativity of beauty and impermanence; war remembrance and nationalism; multi-culturalism and veiled racism; the environment; connection to self and others – or the lack thereof; economic, political and digital systems and the advance of corporate control; all the way to simply a reverence for life, and awe in face of the beauty that surrounds us.

Kirsch has been using manual screen printing as his preferred medium, utilising found materials like old timber, car panels, and others as substrates. With a graphic design background Kirsch has a unique skill set at his disposal that he adds into the mix to edit and combine ink drawings, photography and typography in order to create his unique compositions.

More recently his focus has shifted towards conceptual work, extensively engaging in specific subjects, and realising these works as comprehensive projects/installations. The majority of Kirsch’s work is very specific to New Zealand culture.

His work has been widely exhibited, and is held in collections throughout NZ and overseas.

“Iconic work. Something especially New Zealand.” (TJ McNamara, NZ Herald 2010)