I was born and raised in West Germany as a grandchild of Silesian refugees. In my artistic practice, I examine collective and personal trauma against the backdrop of geopolitical and social upheaval. Rather than on verifiable historical facts, I focus on uncertainties and ambiguities, on the secrets and untold experiences of the unreliable narrators. I am interested in the stories inside of history. What I want to uncover are the subliminal narratives, generated by individuals, nations, political systems and scientific or religious hierarchies in order to make sense of the world, and how well-established explanations may at some point collapse like a house of cards.
At the start of my creative process, irrespective of the end product, I usually write a short text, which I call “script” or “screenplay”. It describes a setting, psychological states and resulting events in symbolic language. With my primary tools drawing and sound, I then adapt the script, creating graphics, music and onomatopoetic or sculptural elements. For this purpose, I have developed a system of symbols, which can be combined and scaled to fit the plot, the dimensions of the exhibition space and the artistic medium. Colors and materials are chosen according to the associations attached to them. Images and sounds are arranged in layers. The end result might be an expansive installation merging sound, imagery, lighting and text, or simply a detailed drawing.
Through my work, I hope to confront not only myself but also the viewer with our internal narratives and encourage a frank and deeply personal discussion that goes beyond an abstract scholarly or political debate.
Aside from my solo studio practice, I am also interested in artistic self-organization and collaboration straddling the boundaries between artistic and curatorial practice, between fine arts and music, between pop and high culture.
EDUCATION
2010–2012:
Masters Degree in Fine Art (MFA) at Tokyo University of the Arts, class of Professor Hirotoshi Sakaguchi
2009–2010:
Research Student at Tokyo University of the Arts
1999–2006:
Diploma Degree in Fine Art at HBK Braunschweig (Braunschweig University of Art), professors Bogomir Ecker, Shimabuku, Simon Fisher Turner, Lienhard von Monkiewitsch and Friedemann von Stockhausen
GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, RESIDENCIES
2024:
Autonomous Activity Program 2024 Winter, YUI-PORT, Niigata, Japan
2023:
Studio Kura, Itoshima, Japan
Since 2017:
Berlin Studio Program (BBK)
2008–2012:
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies (Monbukagakusho)
2008–2010:
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship
2008:
Studio residency grant, Albert Koechlin Foundation (AKS) at Stadtmühle Willisau, Switzerland
2006:
Artist in residence program, Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (ACAC), Aomori, Japan
2004–2005:
ERASMUS Scholarship, Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts, Wroclaw, Poland
SHOWS
2023:
ミセモノ屋台 (Misemono-Yatai), Operation Table, Kitakyushu, Japan
Finally a Bit of Animation (screening by VIDEO PARTY, Kyoto), Media Lab Berlin
2021:
KUNST_ORTE_2021 — Stadt findet Kunst, DRAUSSENSTADT Initiative, Berlin
2019:
Kunstspäti, Montagehalle, Berlin
26 Relaxercises, stay hungry, Kleinwalsertal, Austria
Techne (screening), Old City Hall, Porto Alegre, Brazil and VBK, Berlin
2018:
In Between (screening), Kunstverein Tiergarten, Berlin
Rückgabe (screening), Medienwerkstatt Berlin at Kino Central, Berlin
2016:
Hässliche Kopien, Kommunale Galerie Berlin
Cachet de la poste faisant foi, Hippocrène Foundation, Villa Mallet-Stevens, Paris
2015:
3 Tage Kunst, Kommunale Galerie Berlin
2013:
Transmissions, AIRPLANE Gallery, New York City, and 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo
2012:
Transit, Operation Table (QMAC), Kitakyushu, Japan
Graduation Works Exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts
Chiyofuku Summer Festival, Art Space Chiyofuku, Kurume, Japan
2011:
The Color of Future (performance), Turner Gallery, Tokyo
Esprit, GTS Project, Sumida Riverside Hall Gallery, Tokyo
Yuna Ogino Phenomena (performance), Koshinkan, Mizuho-machi, Japan
2010:
Transformation, Tokyo University of the Arts
Ecru, White, Eggshell, Stone (performance), SILS@WOLFART, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Die Kurve (performance), DAAD / German Cultural Center, Tokyo
Research Student Exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts
2009:
Yotaro Niwa Aru toki mado no sumi he [...] (intervention), Art Center Ongoing, Tokyo
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale: Kokusetsu Dynamo Art Project, Senda, Japan
2008:
Plastic Supreme, Happenstudio, Berlin and Walhalla, Wiesbaden, Germany
Grosse Oper in Kisten, Stadtmühle Willisau, Switzerland
2007:
Work Fiction, Kunstverein Wolfsburg, Germany
NordWestKunst 07, Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven, Germany
2006:
Suspended, Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (ACAC), Aomori, Japan
Freiraum, Kunsthaus Rhenania, Cologne, Germany
2005:
Diploma Exhibition, HBK Braunschweig, Germany
Stany / Conditions, Sfinks, Sopot, Poland
MEMBERSHIPS
Happenstudio — Artist Collective
BBK Berlin — Professional Association of Visual Artists
VG Bild-Kunst — Copyright Association for Visual Arts, Photography, Design and Film