Building on his interest in evolution, philosophy, and society, in his project A Gift From Him Maximilian Pruefer (b. 1986) explores the destruction of natural habitats to make way for agriculture in China. To this end, Pruefer took two trips to the Szechuan Province, where the fruit trees need to be pollinated by hand due to insect deaths caused by the increased use of pesticides. These developments are attributable to Mao's campaign to ?Destroy the Four Olds,? which entailed the killing of around two billion sparrows in order to restore the natural equilibrium. Pruefer documented the entire manual pollination process in photos, collected items, and films which make for an ambivalent exploration of the cultural evolution of humankind. Text in English and German. Maximilian Pruefer's recent solo exhibitions include' Inwelt',Galerie Kandlhofer,2021; 'Everything is going to be alright',DG Kunstraum, Muenchen 2020; 'WIR',Kugelmuehle, Muehlbach, 2020; 'Tier', Galerie Kandlhofer, Vienna, 2019; 'Vieh', Museum Villa Rot, Burgrieden, 2018; 'Nest', Sotheby's Artist Quarterly, Sotheby's Munich, 2018. His work has been included in recent group shows: 'Vienna Biennale for Change',MAK, Vienna, 2021; ' ponds among ponds', ICA Shanghai NYU, 2021; 'Fluegelschlag', Museum Sinclair Haus, Bad Homburg, 2020; 'Egon Schiele, Reloaded', Leopold Museum, Vienna, 2018/19. In 2023, Maximilian Pruefer's works will be shown in a solo exhibition at Welt Museum Vienna and in a group exhibition at Kunsthalle Muenchen. Maximilian Pruefer has received prizes and scholarships such as the Bavarian Art Promotion Award, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Scholarship, the DG German Society for Christian Art Award, and the Swabian District Art Award. SELLING POINTS: . A unique documentation of the destruction of natural habitats in China as well as exploration of the cultural evolution of humankind
