Daniel Kurjakovic

Daniel Kurjakovic is graduated from the University of Fine Arts in Zurich in Art History, Philosophy and Slavic languages ??(1997).
He lives and works between Paris and London.

From 2003-2008, Daniel Kurjakovic has been the head of the exhibition program of Kunsthof Zurich, the associate exhibition space of the Fine Arts Department of the University of Fine Arts Zurich. Since 1995 he has organized several exhibitions with international artists such as Sam Durant, Sol LeWitt, Jos Näpflin or Lawrence Weiner and group shows with renowned artists Georges Adéagbo, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Claude Lévêque, Nedko Solakov, or Nari Ward. Daniel Kurjakovic works as independent curator for different institutions and media and since 2009 he also holds a mandate for the curatorial program of the Hong Kong based Burger Collection, where he is developing a multi-regional exhibition and research project entitled ‘Quadrilogy’ with traveling exhibitions and public programs in different cities worldwide.

As independent curator he organized a number of exhibitions, including Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), We’ll know where when we get there (CNEAI, Paris, 2008), Was macht die Kunst (What about art) at Helmhaus Zurich (2006/2007), Inherent Discrepancy: The Political in Art? Beyond Socio-Political Iconography and Mediatic Symbolism at Public in Paris (2005) or A World Within A Space at Kunsthalle Zurich (2002). While still an assistant curator at the New Museum of Art in Luzern (1999 – 2000), he co-curated the inaugural group exhibition Mixing Memory and Desire (with 30 international artists) as well as the first Swiss film program on German filmmaker and writer Alexander Kluge and an international performance festival (together with Yvane Chapuis).

As critic, he published numerous art critical texts in newspapers and journals such as Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Zurich), Flash Art International Edition (Milan) or The Journal of the Philosophy of Art (London) since 1992. He has authored more than 80 texts on contemporary art for scientific publications, art journals and exhibition catalogues. His essays have appeared in catalogues of, among others, Castello di Rivoli (Turin), Kunsthalle Basel or Kunsthalle Zürich, Argos Bruxelles, Kunstverein Salzburg, or The Power Plant (Toronto).

From 1995 to 2002 he co-directed the self-founded publishing company MEMORY/CAGE EDITIONS, where he has edited more than 30 publications on contemporary art, from artist books to project and exhibition catalogues, on and with writers and artists such as John Berger, Paul Bowles, Gertrude Stein or Robert Wilson. In 2007, he was the editor-at-large of the exhibition catalogue Album for the Swiss contribution to the Venice Biennal 2007 featuring the work of Urs Fischer, Yves Netzhammer, Ugo Rondinone and Christine Streuli. In 2010 he co-founded the Beyrouth based cultural endeavor Fanar Projects hosting lectures, talks and presentations on various aspects of Lebanese life and society.

Apart from continuing to teach courses in the theory and curatorial studies program of the University of Fine Arts Zurich, Daniel Kurjakovic has also lectured at different art schools, universities and institutes throughout Europe including Ecole Supérieur des Arts Visuels Geneva, Jan van Eyck Akademie Maastricht, Etablissement d’en Face Bruxelles, Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Lucerne, Rijksakademie van beeldende Kunsten Amsterdam, University of Art and Design Helsinki, Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel. He is a member of IKT (International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art), of VKKS (Vereinigung der Kunsthistorikerinnen und Kunsthistoriker in der Schweiz) and of AICA (Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art). From 2000 – 2010 he was a permanent member of the City Council of Art in Zurich and from 2006 – 2010 its president; he was a member of the Art Commission of Basel from 1996 – 2000 and a member of the museum council of Kunstmuseum Winterthur from 2009 – 2011.

He was awarded a Budapest residency grant of the foundation Landis & Gyr, Zug, in 2003, and one in London in 2011/2012, in 1996 a grant of the Dienemann Foundation in Lucerne and in 1996 as well as in 2006 a grant of the Federal Office of Culture for his curatorial and art critical work.

Daniel Kurjakovic graduated from University of Zurich in Art History, Philosophy and Slavic Languages in 1997. He presently lives and works between Zurich, Paris and London.

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