update: 2012.2.1
Born in 1971. Graduated from Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany (Master of Fine Arts) in 2003.
Recent main activities are
INSOMNIA, 2011, Große Kunstschau, Worpswede, Germany (Museum Solo Exhibition; spatial installation "Insomnia" developed for the site, framed drawings and cut-outs; catalogue will be published),
THRILL, 2011, Ancienne Douane, Strasbourg, France (wall installation "Root Hunting" within Group Exhibition, with catalogue published),
TERRA INCOGNITA, 2010, Alexandra Saheb Gallery, Berlin; Germany (Solo Exhibition, spatial installation "Terra Incognita" and framed works),
COMPILATION IV, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany (spatial installation "Echo" within Group Exhibition, with catalogue published),
ZYKLOP, 2009, Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany (Solo Exhibition, spatial installation "Zyklop" developed over 8 months of residency stay);
The art work of Nadja Schöllhammer ranges from abundant, multilayered installations in space to small drawings and cut-outs. Her approach to the material as well as her use of narration in her drawings and installations is based on her interest in the loss of human control. She is fascinated by the fragility and vulnerability of paper, and other ephemeral materials. By burning and cutting paper objects, and interweaving these structures with fragments of drawings, she creates three-dimensional formations, which can be physically entered and experienced by the viewer.
In 2011, she has received a project support grant by Karin Abt-Straubinger-Foundation in Stuttgart, Germany, for the development of her spatial installation INSOMNIA within the framework of her Museum Solo Exhibition in Große Kunstschau, Worpswede (Germany). For this exhibition, she has developed in situ large-scale objects by burning filigree three-dimensional structures out of paper.
From 2003-2011, Nadja Schöllhammer has developed plenty of mazy installations in different spaces, amongst them site specific installations in former war shelters in Berlin, wall drawings in the streets of Morocco, paper installations in ancient factories and project rooms in several European cities, as well as spatial works in "white cube"-spaces of galleries and museums. She participated in numerous exhibitions in Germany and abroad:
Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions and Projects:
Unterwegs und en passant, Galerie Gesellschaft, Berlin (2012); THRILL, Ancienne Douane, Strasbourg, France (2011); Mit Seife und Gabeln, Kunstraum Kreuzlingen, Switzerland (2011); Arbeitstitel. Working title. , Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany (2011); Terra Incognita, Alexandra Saheb Gallery, Berlin; Germany (Solo Show, 2010); Arbeitstitel. Working title. Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany (2010); Compilation IV, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany (2009), Tytul Roboczy. Working Title, Centre for Contemp. Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland (2009); Zyklop, Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart (Solo Show, 2009); Scherenschnitte - Kontur pur, Museum Bellerive, Zurich, Switzerland (2009); ICI Berlin, La Condition Publique, Lille, France (2009); MAGMA - Goldrausch 2006, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin (2006), Über Schönheit, Web-Projekt www.ueber-beauty.com, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (2005); Nawarak Lelmal, Goethe-Institut Rabat, Marokko (2005); Der Freie Wille, former shelter Treptow, Berlin (2005), Stipendiaten der Karl Hofer Gesellschaft, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin (2004); Colours of Berlin, Kunst-Werke, Berlin (2002)
From 2008-2009, Nadja Schöllhammer was a fellow of the artists` residency Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany, where she has deepened her material experiments and research about the three-dimensionality of drawing, and discovered a method to burn out three dimensional drawings out of large-scale objects. In 2012, she will be a resident of the artists` residency Künstlerhaus Schloss Balmoral in Bad Ems, Germany, where she will continue her experiments on fragility, ephemeral structures, and transformations.
Between 2003 and 2007, Nadja Schöllhammer has received several travel grants for her artistic research, such as a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) travel grants for Colombia (2007), and Mexico (2005), for her research about death cults. In 2005, she travelled to Morocco with the artists group Nawarak Lelmal, as a part of the NaFöG postgraduate grant from the Berlin Senate for Science, Research and Culture. In 2006, she was supported by the postgraduate professional programme Goldrausch Art IT, Berlin in 2006. Earlier, she received a working grant by the Stiftung Kunstfonds, Bonn (2004) and the Helmut-Thoma Prize for Painting, University of the Arts (UdK), Berlin (2003).
Selected awards, grants and residencies:
2012
grant and working residency programme by Künstlerhaus Schloss Balmoral, Bad Ems, Germany
Tokyo Wonder Site Creator-in-Residence Programme, supported by the Senate of Berlin
2011
project support grant by Karin Abt-Straubinger-Stiftung, Stuttgart, Germany
2010
support by German artists` fonds by the President (Bundespräsident) of Germany
Prize for exhibition of the year by Fördervereins of kunst galerie Fürth
2008-2009
grant and working residency programme by Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany
2007-2008
research travel grant by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) for Colombia (Bogotá, Cali, Pasto)
2006
Goldrausch art IT postgraduate professional development programme, Berlin
2005-2006
NaFöG postgraduate grant for artists by the Senate of Berlin
2005
research grant by DAAD for art project in Mexico (Mexiko City/Michoacán/Oaxaca)
NaFöG research travel grant for Morocco (Asilah, Marakech, Rabat amongst others)
2004-2005
grant by Stiftung Kunstfonds, Bonn (National Endowment of Culture of Republic of Germany)
2003-2006
studio grant by Karl Hofer Gesellschaft, Berlin
2003
Helmut-Thoma-Prize for painting, Universität der Künste Berlin
2001-2002
scholarship by Stiftung Dorothea Konwiarz, Berlin