ImiGiese
Biography
Imi Giese, born Rainer Giese in 1942 in Neheim-Hüsten, Germany, was a significant German artist whose practice encompassed painting and sculpture, deeply rooted in Minimalism and Conceptual Art. He began his studies at the Werkkunstschule Darmstadt alongside Klaus Wolf Knoebel, and both later moved to the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in 1964. There, due to their collaborative partnership, they became known collectively as "Imi und Imi," an abbreviation meaning "I with Him." Initially studying under Walter Breker, they eventually joined the influential class of Joseph Beuys in 1965, where Giese further developed his minimalist and introspective artistic style. Between 1966 and 1969, he worked alongside Knoebel in Room 19 at the academy—a space that became renowned for fostering innovative approaches to minimal and conceptual art. Giese's works were known for their critical engagement with artistic conventions and their reflection on the role of the artist and artwork within the market and institutional structures. His approach often involved questioning traditional forms and frameworks. Sadly, Imi Giese's life ended prematurely when he took his own life in Düsseldorf in 1974. Despite his brief career, his contributions continue to resonate in discussions around Minimalist and Conceptual Art.
