Franz Kempf

Franz Moishe Kempf AM FRS (20 June 1926 – 8 February 2020) was an Australian artist who worked in Australia and Europe. He was a lecturer in printmaking at the University of Adelaide.

Early life and education

Kempf was born in Melbourne on 20 June 1926[1] and studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, then (between 1957 and 1960)[1] in Perugia, Italy and with Oscar Kokoschka in Salzburg,[2] Austria.[3] In England he worked as a film designer with Richard Macdonald, and was associated with Peter Blake, Joe Tilson, Ceri Richards and Keith Vaughan. Vaughan had an influence on Kempf’s work of the 1960s.

Career

Kempf worked with and in a variety of media, styles and methods including paint, print, etching, lithograph, monotype, screenprint, textile and woodcut.[4]

Kempf moved to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1963, becoming head of printmaking at the then North Adelaide School of Arts in 1969.[3] He was senior lecturer in printmaking at the University of South Australia from 1973 to 1981, and a guest lecturer at the Slade School of Fine Art, the University of London, the Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland and the Gloucester College of Art. He participated in over 90 one-man invitation exhibitions in America, Israel, Germany, Poland and China.

His thought and work was influenced by Jewish mysticism, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Cavafy and Proust. In his work, he covered subjects from political issues and the natural environment to the spiritual traditions in Judaism.[3] Although from a non-observant background, Kempf turned to following the Chabad movement of Hasidic Judaism, becoming strictly observant.[2]

Professor Sasha Grishin described him as

...an artist whose work presents both a striking continuity throughout a career which has stretched over half a century, and he is an artist whose work presents evidence for constant rejuvenation and reinvention. As a humanist, the concern for man lies at the centre of his universe and the dilemma of being is the central preoccupation. However, the human presence in Kempf’s art is not something which is treated as unproblematic, something to be recorded and to be described literally. For Kempf to be human is something to be celebrated and the artist adopts an ethical stance in his defence of human dignity. Throughout a series of metaphors, symbols and allegories in a sombre and profound manner he commemorates the miracle of being and condemns all that is oppressive and coercive. As a humanist and as a spiritual and religious artist, Kempf has chosen a path which has not been popular with many of his Australian peers. Yet with time as the various fads and fashions pass, Kempf’s art today appears increasingly fresh, vital and relevant to the issues of the present time.[5]

Honours and recognition

In 1964 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society UK and in January 2003 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the Arts.[6]

Death and legacy

Kempf died in Adelaide on 8 February 2020. He was married to Tamar, and left two children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[7]

The Carclew, an arts centre for youth in North Adelaide, manages the IAF (Independent Arts Foundation) Franz Kempf Printmaker Award, awarded biennially to support the professional development of a young South Australian printmaker. The funding for the A$4,000 award was provided as a gift from Kempf to the Independent Arts Foundation, of which he was a longtime member.[8]

The Franz Kempf Memorial Gallery in the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre (opened in November 2020) contains work by Kempf..[9]

Publications
  • ‘Art in Israel’. Broadsheet, Contemporary Art Society, August 1965, pp. 5–7
  • ‘Polish Printmakers 1972’, Art and Australia 10,3,1973, pp. 236
  • ‘Sculpture in South Australia’, Art and Australia 12, 1, 1974, pp. 46–7
  • Contemporary Australian Printmakers. Landsdowne. 1976.
  • Etchings for Shmuel Gorr, ‘The End of Days’, The Jewish Observer V, 5, October 1968, pp. 16–18, and Shmuel Gorr, ‘The End of Days’, Melbourne: The Levite Press, (1968)
  • Ultimate Goal, Franz Kempf, Generation Vol 3 No 4, General Journal Inc, Melbourne Victoria

Collections

Kempf's work is held in the following institutions:

References
  1. "Franz Kempf". Australian Prints + Printmaking. National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. "Kempf, Franz Moshe". Encyclopedia.com. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. "People in the Arts". Adelaide Jewish Museum. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  4. "KEMPF, Franz: Works". Australian Prints + Printmaking. National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  5. Grishin, Sasha; Smith, Robert, 1928-; Dutkiewicz, Adam (2002), Franz Kempf: Thinking on paper 1955-2002, Wakefield Press, ISBN 978-1-86254-592-2CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "Franz Moishe Kempf". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  7. "KEMPF. Franz Moishe". The Advertiser (Adelaide): Death Notices. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. "IAF Franz Kempf Printmaker Award". Carclew. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  9. "Adelaide Holocaust Museum is opening its doors and the hearts of South Australians". Gandel Philanthropy. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.

Further reading
  • Ashkenazi, Susie, ‘New Paintings by Franz Kempf’, Jewish News, May 1995
  • Dutkiewicz, Adam, ‘Reflections on Life’s Journey’, Advertiser, September 1997
  • Dutkiewicz, Adam, ‘Romantic Landscape in the Abstract’, Advertiser, December 1994
  • Emery, John, ‘Kempf uncovered’, Advertiser, May 1991
  • Grishin, Sasha, ‘The Voyages of Franz Kempf’, Franz Kempf Recent Work, BMG Art, Adelaide, 1997
  • Grishin, Sasha, ‘Discord in Harmony’, Franz Kempf Recent Work, BMG Art,
  • Grishin, Sasha, Discord in Harmony’, Franz Kempf Recent Work, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, 1995
  • Grishin, Sasha, ‘Franz Kempf Works on Paper’, Flinders University Art Museum, 2002
  • Harris, Samela, ‘Outsiders and Witnesses in Art’, Advertiser, September 1995
  • Jawary, Anita, ‘Insights into a Creative Life’, Australian Jewish News, Melbourne edition, November 1992
  • De Jong-Duldig, Eva, ‘Printmaker Presents a Fascinating Look at Life’, Arts/Review, April 1993
  • Kronenberg, Simon, ‘An Exhibition of Contemporary Art’, Jewish Festival of Art, Westpac Gallery, Victorian Art Centre, Melbourne, 1993
  • Larkin, John, ‘Return of a Graduate from the Academy of Free Spirit’, Melbourne Age, May 1995
  • Larkin, John, ‘The View from Within and Above, Franz Kempf Recent Work, BMG Art 2000
  • Lloyd, Tim, ‘Abstract Meets Landscape’, Advertiser, December 1994
  • McDonald, Katherine, ‘Henri Worland Print Award, 1972-1992’, Warrnambool Art Gallery, Victoria
  • Neylon, John, ‘Most Documented Living’, Adelaide Review, 1991
  • Smith, Dr Ernest and Smith, Robert, ‘Franz Kempf The Painter as Printmaker 1955-1992’, Mildura Art Gallery, Swan Hill Regional Gallery, McClelland Gallery, Langwarrin
  • Lloyd, Tim, ‘Infinite Possibilities’, The Advertiser, 20 October 2002
  • Neylon, John, ‘Thinking on Paper’, The Adelaide Review, October 2002
  • D. Peters, Franz Kempf and Karin Schepers, Museum of Modern Art and Design (1964)
  • R. Brooks, Franz Kempf (1991)
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