ARTIST STATEMENT

In my artistic practice, I systematically explore themes of identity, corporeality, and existential fragility. I believe that the most intimate layers of human experience carry a universal significance. This conviction leads me to consciously intertwine autobiographical elements with themes that transcend the individual and touch upon collective experience and culturally embedded structures. My work spans various media – oscillating between objects, installations, moving image, sound, performance, and minimalist spatial interventions. I strive for formal clarity and conceptual precision, while also seeking to imbue my works with emotional intensity and sensory presence.

A key aspect of my practice is the critical reflection of institutional authority, particularly that of the Catholic Church. I am interested in analyzing power dynamics and the ways these structures shape individual experience as well as the broader functioning of society. I investigate the paradoxes and ambivalences these systems produce, and through symbolic, often abstract forms, I create space for a contemplative yet conscious dialogue about responsibility, vulnerability, and the power of individual voice within the social context.

I conceive my works as open systems that invite the viewer to actively engage in the construction of meaning. Rather than conveying clear-cut messages, I aim to provoke an introspective process of interpretation. I respond to current social and cultural tensions – addressing issues of queer identity and the rights of the LGBTI+ community, as well as questions of personal and collective responsibility in a global, often polarized world. My works combine a quiet poetics with the urgency of the present, where each gesture is deliberate and carefully considered.

I believe that art has the power to open discussions, introduce new perspectives, and facilitate deeper understanding; its transformative potential lies not in direct or immediate impact, but in the gradual and beneath-the-surface shaping of social realities. My exhibition strategies aim to create situations where sensitivity becomes a form of resistance – and where fragility transforms into strength.

KRISTIANN