Verena Issel – House of Egorn

b. 1982 in Munich, Germany; lives and works in Hamburg and Berlin, Germany

Verena Issel’s modus operandi is primarily installations playfully executed, comprised of sculptural object that retain an ephemeral quality, using materials such as foam, styrofoam, plastic or felt. Her practice is determined by a deep-seated curiosity that constantly confronts the unknown and explores new realms. Objects and materials are examined and merged into new constellations. Constellations that live on their multiplicity and the autonomy of their individual parts. Everyday objects and ancient historical treasures are confronted with their meaning in contemporary culture. New relations are formed to their original and new environments. Her objects become social or antisocial, intruders or metaphors, - space holders for people’s consumption and behavior of the public and the private. Criticism and wit are at the core of her artistic practice.

EXHIBITIONS

2019
Geronto Games, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin, Germany (group)
Kunst an den Raendern, Galerie der Muthesius Kunsthochschule Kiel, Germany (group)

2018
To Bar, Kunstverein Leipzig, Germany (solo)
WeChat, Oechsner Galerie, Nürnberg, Germany (solo)
Silent Utopia (Murals of a Tourist), Zarya Center for Contemporary Art, Vladivostok, Russia Lob des Lernens, Galerie Oehlfrüh, Hamburg (solo)
Facetime with Skywalking and Verena Issel, Volksbühne Berlin, Germany (solo)
The mobile house turns around with the sun, House of Egorn gallery, Berlin, Germany (group)
Hamburger Hutladen, Installation in der Sammlung der Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg (group)
Additive Removals, Petrus Entertainment, Berlin (group)
Sexed Power, MOM Artspace, Hamburg (group)
Open Studio, Kooshk, Teheran, Iran (group)
Oel-Früh Salon II,hosted & extended by Annika Hippler, Berlin, Germany (group)
Ein Schal der hilft/ Künstler für SEEBRÜCKE, Golden Pudel Club. Hamburg, Germany (group)

2017
Retail Therapy, Trafo Kunsthall, Asker, Norway (solo)
VG Stipendium, Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover, Germany (group)
Änderungen aller Art, Werkstatt für Veränderungen, Mönchengladbach, Germany Alltag (group)
Objekt, Art Advisors Showroom, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Genscher Hardcore Runners, Galerie Genscher, Hamburg, Germany (group)

2016
Aset in Tadmor, Radar. Westfälischer Kunstverein / LWL Landesmuseum Münster, Germany (solo)
Incertitudes, Goethe Institute, Marseille, France (group)
Dreams are my reality. The only kind of real fantasy. Illusions are a common thing. I try to live in dreams. It seems as if it‘s meant to be, D21, Kunstraum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany (group)
Local Enough?! Barry Room, Taipei Artist Village, Taipei, Taiwan (group)
Artwalk/ Heidritter Prints, Fleetstreet, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Internationaler Neujahrsempfang, Salon des Hauses Seepferdchen, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Fashion Session#1, Release Show, MUTTER, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Jahresgaben #5, Kunstverein Harburger Bahnhof, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Jahresgaben, Westfälischer Kunstverein, Münster, Germany (group)

2015
Les Jardins Asiatiques. Goethe Institute Toulouse, Cahors, France (solo)
Hinterzimmer / Hidden Agenda, Koganecho Art Bazaar, Yokohama, Japan (solo)
Feministische Avantgarde der 1970er Jahre- Werke aus der SAMMLUNG VERBUND, Vienna, Austria (group)
Audiocall, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Incertitudes, Goethe Institute, Paris, France (group)
Die Welt Ist Gans: Von A – Z. Enzyklopidäische Grub–Schau der Scheinheiten, Galerie Melike Bilir, Hamburg, Germany (group)
Giovane Creazione Europea. 8 paesi, 48 artisti, #1cittá, Villa Olmo, Como, Italy (group)
Two Plus One: The Hierarchy of Gaze and Subject = Object, Space One, Seoul, South Korea (group)

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

2018
Artist in Residency at Kooshk, Teheran, Iran
Artist in Residency programme at ZARYA, Vladivostok, Russia
Artist in Residency programme at Sema Nanji, Seoul, South Korea

2017
Artist in Residency programme at Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China

2015
Artist in Residency programme at Sema Nanji, Seoul, South Korea

2014
Artist in Residency Programme at KKKC in Klaipeda, Lithuania
Grant of Arthur Boskamp Foundation, Hohenlockstedt, Germany

2013
Free Research Grant, DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) for Papua Neuguinea, Artist in Residency at Studio Mümmelmannsberg, Hamburg, Germany
Art Grant of Kulturbehörde Hamburg for the project:Phaeton in MacPom

2012
INDEX Art Prize, Berenberg Preis für junge Kunst 2012
Artist in Residency at Sootbörn, Forum für Nachlässe von Künstlerinnen und Künstlern, Hamburg,Germany
Artist in Residency at Künstlerhaus Lauenburg des Landes Schleswig, Holstein, Germany

TEXTS & PUBLICATIONS

2018
Kultur & Gespenster Nr. 19, Medienzeit – Computerspiele, 368 pages, 23 x 16,5 cm, image series, ISBN 978-3-941613-99-7, Textem Verlag

2016
UKIYO. Artist book with John L Tran. Book design: Franziska Nast. Publisher: Kulturbehörde der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg/ Kunstverein Harburger Bahnhof, printed in St. Pauli

2015
FASHION SESSION #1. Artist book, together with Franziska Nast, Sebastian Rohrbeck and Vanessa Nica Mueller. Self published
Und darum gibt es Wüsten: Phaetons Reise und andere Metamorphosen, nach Publius Ovidius Naso in Brandenburg. Artist book, with Marie Luise Birkholz. Graphic design: Christoph Steinegger. ISBN: 978-653971-14-2. Textem Verlag

EDUCATION

2002 - 2011 Hfbk Academy of Fine Arts Hamburg with Franz Erhard Walther, Pia Stadtbäumer, Andrea Tippel, Michaela Mélian and Gerd Roscher, Hamburg, Germany
2009 MA Classical Philology (Latin / Ancient Greek), University of Hamburg, Germany
2011 Postgraduate - Programme at China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
2011 Master degree of Fine Arts at Academy of Fine Arts Hamburg, Germany