Dietmar Franz, Apple/Apple, from the Apple(s) series, 2012-2019
, Graphite on plywood, 74 works in total: approx. Ø 100 cm
Kollitsch Collection

Korbinian Aigner, known as the “Apple Pastor”, was both a priest and an expert in growing fruit, particularly apples. Due to his critical remarks he was imprisoned at the Dachau concentration camp in 1941 where, as a forced labourer in agriculture, he succeeded in growing new varieties of apples between the barracks, which he named KZ 1, KZ 2 (Concentration Camp 1, 2), etc. At the same time he untiringly drew sketches of different varieties. To commemorate Aigner, the US concept artist Jimmie Durham planted an apple tree of the Korbinian variety KZ 3 in the Parkaue park in Kassel as part of his contribution to documenta 13 (Kassel, 2012). Inspired by this action and in memory of his great grandfather who was also incarcerated at Dachau – both men survived – Dietmar Franz took an interest in Aigner’s sketches and re-drew some of his Apple Portraits. Since then he has been drawing one apple after another.

— Felix Kucher

Dietmar Franz, Trash Bags, from the Apple(s) series, 2017
, Graphite on plywood, 44 x 24 cm
Kollitsch Collection

Dietmar Franz, Christmas 2012, from the series Trash Bags, 2019
, Graphite on plywood, 71,5 x 50 cm
Kollitsch Collection

In his very recent series Trash Bags, which he started in 2016, Dietmar Franz picks up a theme that is by no means new, but nevertheless extremely topical: waste. Using his proven technique of graphite on plywood, he creates two-dimensional wall objects that seem deceptively genuine and which cause irritation, both when the trash bags are seen separately and when they are arranged into groups, as still lifes. Inevitably, the viewer is faced with the question of their content, which may be a variety of things. Based on his own annual dilemma of how to dispose of his Christmas tree, he depicts a tree in a trash bag, thus adding an additional level of interpretation.

Dietmar Franz, Wörthersee III, from the series NATURgeil (NATURALLY wicked), 2016
, Graphite on plywood, Ø 100 cm
Kollitsch Collection