INTERVIEW: JANA SCHRÖDER

all images: by Jana Schröder / courtesy Jana Schröder

The cool and abstract works by 1983-born artist Jana Schröder carry their own signature: not only does Jana explore the doodle structure over and over again, but in her 'Spontacts Series' she also approaches the specific aesthetic of handwriting. Jana studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under Prof. Albert Oehlen and subsequently founded the GSK – Gesellschaft für Streitorientierte Kulturforschung (Society for Conflict-based Culture Reserach), which staged weekly battles between two art works from different artists. Her work is currently on display in the group exhibition 'Blau" at Galerie Martina Detterer in Frankfurt am Main. In a short interview I asked Jana some questions about her current work.

SIBYLLE JAZRA: PREMASTER BUDDING BLASTER

all images: Sibylle Jazra at Berlin Weekly / courtesy Sibylle Jazra / photos by artfridge and Sibylle Jazra

"PreMaster Budding Blaster Theory (Ethno Style)" does not need to be feared. The installation by Berlin based artist Sibylle Jazra is an accumulation of chairs, slogans and textiles that has to be taken as it is. Questioning the seriousness (and sacredness) of text- and theory based art, Jazra'a work instead celebrates absurdity and nonsense. The project room Berlin Weekly, where the installation is currently exhibited, regularly features artists for one week in their display window on Linienstrasse in Berlin Mitte.

PESTER, SCHUSTER, VIRNICH

all images from the exhibition "Ulrich Pester, Ralph Schuster, Anna Virnich" at Sprüth Magers Berlin / Courtesy Sprüth Magers Berlin London / photos by artfridge.de

What do we actually mean, when we talk about the contemporary in art? Originally, the word "contemporary" describes a state that only takes some milli-seconds. A blink with the eye. However, the word is commonly used to define certain art as 'right in time' - now. And still, whether something is contemporary, whether it is a new trend or not, is usually dependent on the peoples' common opinion. Galerie Sprüth Magers Berlin currently hosts three exhibitions, which all fall into the category of being "contemporary": Upstairs, Joseph Kosuth reanimates the cold aestehtic of neon signs and thus re-establishes the old contemporary; the main room shows several 3D music videos by Kraftwerk, who are contemporary evergreens; and in the project room there is an excting group show with the three young artists Ulrich Pester, Ralph Schuster and Anna Virnich - let's say, the new contemporaries.

UDK RUNDGANG 2013

Katharina von Hagenow, Klasse Möbus, Raum 78 Samuel Ash (Wooden sculpture), Katharina von Hagenow (sound sculptures), Klasse Möbus, Raum 77 Julian Charrière, Klasse Olafur Eliasson, Raum 92 Clara Thorbecke, Klasse Held Leon Eisermann, Klasse Zipp, Raum 229 Claudio Campo-Garcia, Klasse Lewandowsky Juliane Tübke, Klasse Lewandowsky Luca Vanello, Raum 94 Fabian Knecht, Raum 91, curated by Lukas Töpfer   Lilia Kovka, Raum 91, curated by Lukas Töpfer Su Hwan Choi, Raum 91, curated by Lukas Töpfer Franziska Nestler, Klasse Lorbeer, Raum 215
all images: courtesy the artists, photo copyright: artfridge

Berlin likes to flirt with the idea of being the most important art capital in the world – but whether this 'brilliancy' reflects on the young professionals, is best to be observed at the annual degree show of the Universität der Künste (UDK) – the "Rundgang", as we call it. Opening nine campus locations for a long weekend to the public, the fine art studios at Hardenbergstraße 33 are presumably the most popular highlight.

THOMAS CHAPMAN: GLISTEN

all works by Thomas Chapman as a part of the exhibition Glisten at PSM-Gallery, Berlin / Photos by artfridge / Courtesy PSM-Gallery, Berlin 

Sometimes a gallery visit transforms into an experience of another intellectual world. It can can pull you out of reality and leave you in a time-less space. I had this experience today at PSM-Gallery, who currently exhibit the solo-show "Glisten" by the 1975 born Thomas Chapman. 

The center piece "Sound Absorber Suite" suggests itself as a temple of both, a retreat and an acoustic studio. Soft techno beats and voices from several people, namely Chapman's self-composed song GLISTEN, are buzzing out of the accessible collage-sculpture. The inside's floor is covered by a blue carpet and the walls are plastered with lyrics and notes. Formerly an inventory from Chapman's Berlin studio, the "Suite" now represents an artifact of a creative workshop. Two sculptures take a similar shape as the installation in the center: Quite experimental, yet minimal in their colour, the objects grow out of the wall and take the shape of an alien relict. 

ARTIST WATCH: BENEDIKT PARTENHEIMER

the images above are part of Benedikt Partenheimer's series "36 VIEWS OF MT. FUJI" / 
all images courtesy and copyright Benedikt Partenheimer

Benedikt Partenheimer (*1977, Munich) looks at the world with different eyes than most other people. He travels and takes photos. But his photographs take us beyond the actual reality - they show a completely new perspective on what would usually seem normal. Neither the popularity of a photographed subject, nor the unspectacularity can distract Partenheimer to re-evaluate and explore a topic from a different angle.