GeorgJappe
Biography
Georg Jappe (1936,Cologne, Germany–2007, Kleve, Germany) was a German artist, writer, and art critic known for his interdisciplinary approach that combined art, literature, and nature. His work explored the intersections between artistic expression and environmental observation, particularly through his concept of "Ornithopoetry," which linked birdwatching with poetic and visual documentation. Jappe spent much of his early life in South Tyrol before pursuing higher education in theater and philosophy in Frankfurt, Paris, and Vienna. In 1961, he earned his doctorate with a dissertation on La Marionette Artistique, reflecting his early interest in performative and conceptual art. He became a prominent art critic and theorist, writing for major publications such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitungand Die Zeit. He also worked as a university lecturer and editor, later becoming a Professor of Art Theory at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg in 1979. His teachings and writings played a crucial role in shaping the discourse around contemporary and experimental art. His artistic practice evolved toward an innovative form he called Ornithopoetry, a fusion of birdwatching, poetic reflections, and artistic documentation. Through detailed field notes, drawings, and text-based works, he examined birds’ movements, songs, and habitats. He traveled extensively to remote landscapes, from Teufelsmoor in Germany to the Arctic regions of Spitsbergen and Greenland, to study and document avian life. Jappe’s major works include Der Traum von der Metropole (1979), Mementi (1980), and Schreibtischblätter (1996), alongside collaborative projects with artist Lili Fischer, such as Winterbuch von Norderoog (1982) and Teufelsmoor persönlich (1983). His ability to merge art, nature, and literature established him as a distinctive voice in contemporary artistic discourse.
