H. C. Artmann
Encyclopedia
Hans Carl Artmann also known as Ib Hansen, was (amongst other things) an Austria
-born poet and writer, most popular for his early poems written in Viennese (med ana schwoazzn dintn, 1958), which however never after were to be the focus of his oeuvre.
as the son of shoe maker Johann Artmann and his wife Marie (née Schneider). After growing up in Vienna
and attending Volks- & Hauptschule, he worked as an office intern for three years; in 1940, he was conscripted during World War II
, and transferred to a punishment battalion after suffering a war wound in 1941.
Having grown up trilingually, Artmann had an interest in language from an early age on; in 1947, his first publications appeared on radio and in the newspaper Neue Wege. He joined the Art-Club
in 1951, and worked with Gerhard Rühm and Konrad Bayer
from 1952 on. The same year, he also founded the so-called Wiener Gruppe
of avantgarde poets, which he left in 1958.
Starting in 1954, Artmann travelled Europe
extensively; he stayed in Sweden
from 1961 to 1965, living in Stockholm
, Lund
and Malmö
, then went to live in Berlin
until 1969, to settle down in Salzburg
in 1972. As Ib Hansen he had sung at DMGP 1966 with the song "Lille Veninde" placing equal 3rd with 9 points.
He was a founding member of the Anti P.E.N. club in 1973; later that year, he became and stayed president of the Grazer Autorenversammlung
until leaving the organization in 1978.
He earned several awards for his achievements in literature
during his lifetime, including the Grand Austrian State Prize
in 1974, the title of honorary doctor from the University of Salzburg
in 1991 and the Georg-Büchner Preis for literature in 1997.
He also translated one volume of the Asterix
series into Viennese language, Da Legionäa Asterix
, which was released in 1999.
H. C. Artmann (†79) died from a heart attack
on 4 December 2000 in Vienna.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
-born poet and writer, most popular for his early poems written in Viennese (med ana schwoazzn dintn, 1958), which however never after were to be the focus of his oeuvre.
Life and work
Artmann was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
as the son of shoe maker Johann Artmann and his wife Marie (née Schneider). After growing up in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and attending Volks- & Hauptschule, he worked as an office intern for three years; in 1940, he was conscripted during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and transferred to a punishment battalion after suffering a war wound in 1941.
Having grown up trilingually, Artmann had an interest in language from an early age on; in 1947, his first publications appeared on radio and in the newspaper Neue Wege. He joined the Art-Club
Art-Club
Art-Club was an association of artists during the postwar period in Vienna, Austria, in 1946–1959.-History:Art-Club was formed with the intention of fighting for the autonomy of modern art. This rather late standpoint in art history should be viewed in the light of the conditions dictated by Nazi...
in 1951, and worked with Gerhard Rühm and Konrad Bayer
Konrad Bayer
Konrad Bayer was an Austrian writer and poet. A member of the Wiener Gruppe, he combined apparently irreconcilable elements—violence, hermeticism, pessimism, ecstasy, banality—and influences —into a bizarre linguistic solipsism which has held increasing fascination for German writers of...
from 1952 on. The same year, he also founded the so-called Wiener Gruppe
Wiener Gruppe
Wiener Gruppe was a small and loose avant-garde constellation of Austrian poets and writers, which arose from an older and wider postwar association of artists called Art-Club . The group was formed around 1954 under the influence of H. C. Artmann in Vienna and existed for about a decade...
of avantgarde poets, which he left in 1958.
Starting in 1954, Artmann travelled Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
extensively; he stayed in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
from 1961 to 1965, living in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
and Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, then went to live in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
until 1969, to settle down in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
in 1972. As Ib Hansen he had sung at DMGP 1966 with the song "Lille Veninde" placing equal 3rd with 9 points.
He was a founding member of the Anti P.E.N. club in 1973; later that year, he became and stayed president of the Grazer Autorenversammlung
Grazer Autorenversammlung
The Grazer Autorinnen Autorenversammlung was founded under the name of Grazer Autorenversammlung in March 1973 and is one of the two major Austrian writers' association . H. C. Artmann was its first president...
until leaving the organization in 1978.
He earned several awards for his achievements in literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
during his lifetime, including the Grand Austrian State Prize
Grand Austrian State Prize
The Grand Austrian State Prize is a decoration given annually by Austria to an artist for exceptional work. The recipient must be an Austrian citizen with a permanent residence in Austria....
in 1974, the title of honorary doctor from the University of Salzburg
University of Salzburg
The University of Salzburg, or Paris Lodron University after its founder, the Prince Archbishop Paris Lodron, is located in the Austrian city of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, home of Mozart. It is divided into 4 faculties: catholic theology, law, humanities and natural science.Founded in 1622, it...
in 1991 and the Georg-Büchner Preis for literature in 1997.
He also translated one volume of the Asterix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
series into Viennese language, Da Legionäa Asterix
Asterix the Legionary
Asterix the Legionary is the tenth Asterix book in the Asterix comic book series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was first published as a serial in Pilote magazine, issues 368-389, in 1966.-Synopsis:...
, which was released in 1999.
H. C. Artmann (†79) died from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 4 December 2000 in Vienna.
Selected works
- Achtundachtzig: ausgewählte Gedichte (1996) ISBN 3-7017-1009-0
- Der aeronautische Sindtbart : oder, Seltsame Luftreise von Niedercalifornien nach Crain (1975) ISBN 3-423-01067-3
- Allerleirausch: neue schöne Kinderreime (1978) ISBN 3-921499-22-4
- Angus; English version by Olive Jones (1974) ISBN 0-416-80470-5
- Artmann, H.C., Dichter: ein Album mit alten Bildern und neuen Texten; edited by Jochen Jung (1986) ISBN 3-7017-0455-4
- Aus meiner Botanisiertrommel: Balladen u. Naturgedichte (1975) ISBN 3-7017-0134-2
- The Best of H.C. Artmann; edited by Klaus Reichert (1975) ISBN 3-518-36775-7
- Christopher und Peregrin und was weiter geschah : ein Bären-Roman in drei Kapiteln; with Barbara Wehr (1975)
- Drakula, Drakula. Ein transsylvanisches Abenteuer; with Uwe Brenner (1966)
- Die Fahrt zur Insel Nantucket; Theater (1969)
- Fleiss und Industrie (1989) ISBN 3-518-01691-1
- Frankenstein in Sussex (1974) ISBN 3-88010-009-8
- Gedichte über die Liebe und über die Lasterhaftigkeit (1975) ISBN 3-518-01473-0
- Gedichte von der Wollust des Dichtens in Worte gefasst (1989) ISBN 3-7017-0568-2
- Gesammelte Prosa; edited by Klaus Reichert, 4 volumes (1997) ISBN 3-7017-1094-5
- Gesänge der Hämmer (1996) ISBN 3-7013-0931-0
- Goethe trifft Lilo Pulver und wandert mit ihr durch den Spessart zum Schloss Mespelbrunn (1996) ISBN 3-927480-35-5
- Grammatik der Rosen: gesammelte Prosa; edited by Klaus Reichert, 3 volumes (1979) ISBN 3-7017-0221-7
- Grünverschlossene Botschaft. 90 Träume (1967)
- H.C. Artmann: ich bin Abenteurer und nicht Dichter: aus Gesprächen mit Kurt Hofmann (2001) ISBN 3-85002-465-2
- Hans-Christof Stenzel’s POEtarium (1991)
- Der Herr Norrrdwind: ein Opernlibretto (2005) ISBN 3-7017-1410-X
- How much, Schatzi? (1971)
- Ich brauch einen Wintermantel etz.: Briefe an Herbert Wochinz; edited by Alois Brandstetter (2005) ISBN 3-902144-92-0
- Im Schatten der Burenwurst: Skizzen aus Wien (1983) ISBN 3-7017-0329-9
- Die Jagd nach Dr. U.: oder, Ein einsamer Spiegel, in dem sich der Tag reflektiert (1977) ISBN 3-7017-0166-0
- Kleinere Taschenkunststücke. Fast eine Chinoiserie (1973) ISBN 3-88010-000-4
- Eine Lektion in Poesie wird vorbereitet (1998) ISBN 3-85420-490-6
- Ein lilienweisser Brief aus Lincolnshire: Gedichte aus 21 Jahren; edited by Gerald Bisinger (1969)
- Nachrichten aus Nord und Süd (1978) ISBN 3-7017-0196-2
- Ompül (1974) ISBN 3-7008-0338-5
- Das Prahlen des Urwaldes im Dschungel (1983) ISBN 3-88537-057-3
- The quest for Dr. U, or, A solitary mirror in which the day reflects; translated by Malcolm Green & Derk Wynand (1993) ISBN 0-947757-56-2
- Der Schlüssel zum Paradies: religiöse Dichtung der Kelten (1993) ISBN 3-7013-0744-X
- Die Sonne war ein grünes Ei: von der Erschaffung der Welt und ihren Dingen (1982) ISBN 3-7017-0300-0
- Das Suchen nach dem gestrigen Tag; oder, Schnee auf einem heissen Brotwecken : Eintragungen e. bizarren Liebhabers (1978) ISBN 3-442-07013-9
- Unter der Bedeckung eines Hutes. Montagen u. Sequenzen (1974) ISBN 3-7017-0097-4
- Verbarium. Gedichte (1966)
- Von einem Husaren, der seine guldine Uhr in einem Teich oder Weiher verloren, sie aber nachhero nicht wiedergefunden hat (1990) ISBN 3-7013-0776-8
- Die Wanderer (1979) ISBN 3-921499-24-0
- Was sich im Fernen abspielt: gesammelte Geschichten edited by Hans Haider (1995) ISBN 3-7017-0899-1
- Wer dichten kann ist Dichtersmann: eine Auswahl aus dem Werk; edited by Christina Weiss and Karl Riha (1986) ISBN 3-15-008264-1
- Yeti; oder, John, ich reise ...; with Rainer Pichler and Hannes Schneider (1970)
- Der zerbrochene Krug: nach Heinrich von Kleist (1992) ISBN 3-7017-0784-7
A documentary film
- Ferry RadaxFerry RadaxFerry Radax is an Austrian film maker born in Vienna. He has been active in many genres since 1949. He studied at Vienna's Film Institute in 1953-54, followed by Cinecittà, Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, in Rome in 1955-56. He has produced films all around Europe, and also in South...
: H.C. Artmann (1967). A documentary film portrait of the legend made by a fellow countryman. 42 min., black and white.
External links
- For books in English check Atlas Press
- See literaturhaus.at for a most extensive list of his work (in German).
- Hans Carl "H. C." Artmann biographical sketch on Find-A-Grave
- author page at Lyrikline.orgLyrikline.orglyrikline.org hosts contemporary international poetry as audio and text , plus bibliographies and biographies for each poet.lyrikline.org was started in November 1999 as a German-language site...
, with audio and text in original language, and translations into Slovenian.