Uta Neumann

About me

Uta Neumann, born in 1976, has lived as an artist and freelance photographer in Berlin since 2002. She studied photography in Melbourne, Bielefeld and Berlin. With her love for landscape and the natural surroundings, Neumann creates installations using photography, video, objects and sound. In 2010 Neumann opened her studio space Strahler, a platform for music, poetry and photography, and curated several exhibitions, concerts, and readings. Since 2015 she has begun to collaborate with artists and musicians from the new and experimental music scene in Berlin. In addition to numerous exhibitions in Berlin (e.g. at Martin Gropius Bau, Sophiensaele, Künstlerhaus Bethanien), her work has been exhibited internationally, including in Italy, Switzerland, Portugal and China.

1996
Visual Communications Studies, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Dept. of Design, Bielefeld
2000
Undergraduate Studies in Photography, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
2003
Degree in Visual Communication/Photography, Bielefeld University of Applied Siences
2006
goldrausch Künstlerinnen art IT, postgraduate scholarship, Berlin
2008
Arno Fischer’s Master Class at Ostkreuzschule for Photography, Berlin
Member of LORIS - Galerie für zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin (until 2010)
2010
Foundation & Leader of STRAHLER, projectspace & photostudio, Berlin (until 2020)
2009
"professional photography workshop", Todd Weinstein, New York City
2013/14
Guest Student at UDK Berlin under Byong-Chul Han, Studium Generale

Artist Statement

My interest involves landscape in the broadest sense of meaning; in my sense, it can appear multi-layered and not predominantly a (natural) phenomenon with a determined dimension and circumference. A landscape can also occur completely concealed in the crevice of a rock, and can expand beyond the visual. I conceive landscapes as spaces, objects and bodies, as sounds and (sensory) perceptions. I attempt to translate my experiences of landscapes into my artistic work, which, ideally, cater for a renewed participation in the experiences, both my own and those of others.
In an encounter with landscape, it is as if a primordial experience could be heard, one which takes place on a pre-verbal, energetic plane of experience, and which perhaps is not (just) related to my individual experience, but rather originates from a collective or universal experience of ‘being-in- the-world’. An experience which has accumulated in me, in my cells, which pierces me, and from which everything seems to originate, as if from one cause, one basis.

Exhibitions (Selection)

2022
Elements, holding space, Schloss Werdenberg, Schweiz
Stones & Circles, Popup Print Gallery, NDSM Fuse, Amsterdam
2021
La perfezione di uno spirito sottile, concertinstallation, Kontraklang @ Villa Elisabeth, Berlin
2019
power cage, State Studio, Berlin
Töne & Schatten, Salon Kuschan, Berlin (S)
2018
#1 convolution, „to pool“ curated by Schnee Eule, Paracelsusbad, Berlin
Steine & Hölzer, Galerie Löwen.haus, Gerswalde, Uckermark
La perfezione di uno spirito sottile (1985), S.Sciarrino, Konzertinstallation in Kollaboration, Infektion!/Staatsoper Berlin & Ambitus/Gesellschaftshaus Magdeburg
2017
Photo-Basel with the work "Annäherung an Grau (Approaching Gray)", Galerie Grundemark Nilsson
Zu sprechen anheben (To speak up), Neuköllner Produktionen, Strahler, Berlin (E)
2016
Perceptions, Galerie Grundemark Nilsson, Berlin
Mediterraneo-il Mare tra le Terre, Galleria Il Frantoio, Capalbio/Grosseto, Italien
2015
Stranded Places & Other Landscapes, Strahler, Berlin (S)
2014
Mitteilungen (Messages), „6ed Month of Photography Berlin“, Strahler, Berlin (C)
Geberge (Refuges), Galerie Lindner, Essen
2013
Call & Response, Strahler, Berlin
2012
Geberge (Refuges), ES contemporary art gallery meran, Meran, Italy (S)
Den Raum verlassen oder Vom vagen Grund (Leaving the room or on uncertain ground), Galerie Lindner, Münster (S)
2011
Some friends, Warte für Kunst, Kassel (C)
The Best Of All Possible Worlds, CARPE DIEM, Lissabon, Portugal
2010
Was war. Was ist. Was bleibt. (What was. What is. What remains.), Strahler, Berlin
2009
Deutschland & China – Gemeinsam in Bewegung ( Moving ahead together), Museum of Art Wuhan, China (C)
Sights, LORIS- Galerie für zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin (S)
Liberty Farms, Galerie Foto-Forum, Bozen, Italy (S)
2008
Die Annahme von Werten (The Assumption of Values), „3rd European Month of Photography“, Ufer-Hallen, Berlin
Vom vagen Grund (On Uncertain Ground), LORIS- Galerie für zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin (S)
Im Verschwinden halten (Keep in Disappearing), Sophiensaele, Berlin
Wir sind immer für Euch da (We are always being present for you), Kunsthaus Dresden, Dresden (C)
2007
Die Annahme von Werten (The Assumption of Values), Kunsthaus Bocholt, Bocholt
2006
berühmt (famous), klubfoto, „ 2nd European Month of Photography“, Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin (C)
MAGMA/ goldrausch 2006, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/ Bethanien, Berlin (C)

C: Catalogue S: Solo Show

Grants/Nominations/Residencies

2023
Artist in Residence, KuBa:kulturbahnhof, Prignitz
2022
Stipend "Neustart Kultur", Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
Artist in Residence, Casa Sasso, Tessin, Switzerland
Artist in Residence, Bibliothek Andreas Züst, Switzerland
2021
Stipend "Neustart Kultur", VG-Bild Kunst
Artist in Residence, Libken e.V., Böckenberg, Uckermark
Artist in Residence, Hof Amalion, Amalienhof, Uckermark
Shortlist "La Beque – Artist Residency", Switzerland
2020
Artist in Residence, Villa Ruffieux, Switzerland
2018
Shortlist "Jon Schueler Scholarship 2019", Isle of Skye, Schottland
2013
Shortlist "Triangle Marseille 2014", Frankreich
2011
Nomination "katapult 2010", Nachwuchs-Wettbewerb Fotografie, Frankfurt a.M.
2006
Scholarship holder "goldrausch Künstlerinnenprojekt art IT", Berlin
2004
Nomination "gute aussichten"

Additional Trainings & Workshops

2014
training in yoga, axis syllabus & dance, Diana Thielen, Ponderosa – Art, Dance & Performance, Stolzenhagen
2015
voiceLab, improvisation workshop for voices, Ute Wassermann, Neue Musikschule Berlin
2017
improvisation with text & performance, Litó Walkey & Tabea Xenia Magyar, Strahler, Berlin
2017/18
training in singing & improvisation, Frieda Gawenda (singer & songwriter Hund & My Sister Grenadine), Berlin
2018/19
astrology workshop (1 & 2), Giorgia Pecora (Door of Lotus), Heilpraktikerschule Kreuzberg, Berlin
2021
Workshop in mask making, Patricia Christmann, puppet actress, Hof Amalion, Uckerland
Training in phytotherapie, Cornelia Titzmann, Samuel-Hahnemann-Schule, Berlin
Traces in movement | a meeting of Feldenkrais & dance improvisation, Anna Jarrige & Johanna Ackva, Libken e.V.

Publications

2016
Sediment, Artist-Publication of 20 Copies incl. C-Print, Uta Neumann, Berlin
2011
Bildkulturen 2, Anna Zika
2009
Gemeinsam in Bewegung, Ausstellungskatalog, Kunstverlag der Verlagsgruppe Yangtse, Provinz Hubei, China
2008
Die Kunst des Alterns, Ausstellungskatalog, NGBK & Kunsthaus Dresden
Gibt es die Welt auch ohne mich, FH Bielefeld/Kehrer Verlag Heidelberg
2006
Aus dem Dickicht, Ausstellungskatalog, Uta Neumann, Berlin

Work Experience

As of 2002
works as a freelance photographer for magazines e.g. Brand Eins, Brigitte, Electronic Beats, Stern, L-Mag
As of 2003
works regularly – at home and abroad – in collaboration with Anika Büssemeier, Fotografie, Berlin
2010-2020
Leader of Strahler, Berlin
- Studio for Still & Portraitphotogaphy (digital)- Management of the analogue Photography
-Lab for Color-and B/W printing, organisation & technical supervisor: responsibilities including equipment repair, supply ordering, technical introductions, appointment
- Curator of div. exhibitions, concerts & readings
2010
Leader of the photography workshop „Basic Principles in Digital Photography and Exhibition Documentation“ for Goethe Institute at Sharjha Museums, VAE