Bettina Krieg - Pictures, Art, Photography

Bettina Krieg


Background Information about Bettina Krieg

Introduction

At first glance, the works of painter and illustrator Bettina Krieg resemble mechanically produced renderings, with their distinct precision and uniformity. Only upon closer inspection do the compositions unfold to reveal a multitude of lines, each with small irregularities and idiosyncrasies. Each line, though unique, embodies Krieg’s signature style. This approach grants the viewer a variety of perspectives; For example, when taking a step back, the work evolves to allow new interpretations.

Bettina Krieg’s artistic approach resembles a form of meditation. At her studio, she prefers an early start to the day – gladly opening windows to draw inspiration from the outdoors. Little by little, she delves deeper into her work, drawing line after line in colored ink. Her usual color of choice is blue, but she also experiments with green, gold, silver, black, and red. Against a white backdrop, a dramatic landscape begins to emerge. The large-format works are created over a long period of time – days, sometimes weeks. As a result, various states of emotion can be detected. Lines from one day can resist, compete with, or rival the previous day’s lines; They can likewise complement each other to establish a lighthearted interplay.

For many years, Krieg has devoted herself to drawing – continuously changing and developing her approach in the process. While intuition has always been an essential part of her work process, her earlier pieces had a larger focus on understanding and reconstructing complex structures. Nowadays, she is driven by emotional appeal. She prefers drawing in the morning when the events of the have not yet affected her. The artist is often alone during these hours, allowing her the ability to trace internal emotional vibrations. Her works are exhibited and auctioned worldwide, with a large presence in Europe and North America.

Bio

1981born in Würzburg, Germany
2004Erasmus-Program, Visual Art Studies, École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Marseille, France
2007Nica-Program, Visual Art Studies, Australian National University of Canberra, Australia
2009Masters of Visual Art, University of the Arts, Berlin (Daniel Richter; Robert Lucander; Hans J. Diehl)

Awards

2013Nomination, Art Prize, Museum van Bommel van Dam, Venlo Holland

20101. Preis / Premio Swab 2010 / Barcelona, Spanien 
20061. Preis – Artprize Hertie School of Governance, Berlin

Grants

2022ARBEITSSTIPENDIUM NEUSTART, STIFTUNG KUNSTFONDS
2012Arbeitsstipendium Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
2010Gast Stipendium / Villa Aurora / Los Angeles, USA

Residency Program/ Künstlerhaus Lukas, Ahrenshoop
2007NICA / Australian National University of Canberra
2005Residency program / Aufenthalt in Bukarest, Romnia 
Foundation Schweizer Cumpana
2004Erasmus / École Supérieure des Beaux Arts de Marseille

Exhibitions

2021

Transition, Galerie Martin Mertens, Berlin, Germany

Les Voyageurs #1 Bettina Krieg & Maximilian Magnus, D1 Gallery, Hamburg, Germany

2020Stream, Salon am Moritzplatz, Berlin, Germany
2019

Intimacy, Brunnenstraße 22, Berlin, Germany

Drawings, The Aurora, Vienna, Austria

2018Extended Heartbeats, Double Studio, Berlin, Germany
2017Raumzeichen, JB Finearts, Hamburg, Germany
2016How Long Is A Piece of String, Galerie M. Mertens, Berlin, Germany
2015Systematic Motions, Galerie Parrotta Contemporary Art, Stuttgart, Germany
2014

Kontrakt der Zeichnerin, Deutsche Werkstätten, Dresden, Germany

Struktur Form Variation / Bettina Krieg & Nico Kiese, Loft 8, Vienna, Austria

2013

Vortex, Drawing Center Diepenheim, Holland

Konzeption, Galerie Andrae Kaufmann, Berlin, Germany

2012

Messestand Vienna Fair, WienMessestand Vienna Fair, Vienna, Austria





2021Lazy Eye, Spoiler, Berlin, Germany
2020

40 x 30, Galerie Lachemann Art, Konstanz, Germany

Meditations on Paper 2, JB Finearts, Hamburg, Germany

2019

Meditations on Paper 1, JB Finearts, Hamburg, Germany

Marking Time, Deutsche Werkstätten, Dresden, Germany

Drawing Wow, BCMA, Berlin, Germany

What goes around comes around, Studiolo, Berlin, Germany

Edition 1.0 AXS Art & ART TOURS BERLIN, Berlin, Germany

En Bloc, Codex, Berlin, Germany

2018

Gästeliste , Galerie Peters-Barenbrock, Ahrenshoop, Germany

Paperwork, Codex, Berlin, Germany

2017

Silent Art Auction, Drawing Hub, Berlin, Germany

Millerntor Gallery, Maastricht, Netherlands 

Raumzeichen, JB Fine Arts, Hamburg, Germany

Sommerblüten, Galerie Martin Mertens, Berlin, Germany

Golden Ass, Laden für Nichts, Leipzig, Germany

What`s Up, New York, United States

Three Two One / A 3 Day Art Show, Los Angeles, United States

2016

Paper Works, Galerie Martin Mertens, Berlin, Germany

WHAT’S UP 2.0, House of the Nobleman, London, Great Britain

Dozentenausstellung, Motorenhalle, Dresden, Germany

In correspondence with the drawing, Galerie Michael Fuchs, Berlin, Germany

Papier!, 68 Projects, Berlin, Germany

Through the Looking Glass, oqbo Raum für Bild Ton und Wort, Berlin, Germany

10 Years, Galerie M. Mertens, Berlin, Germany

2015

Happiness Is Boring, Galerie M. Mertens, Berlin, Germany

F.E.G.L. LYKK zu Faserstein in Memoriam Peter Lang, Bar Babette, Berlin, Deutschland

2014

Welten Träumen, Sammlung Kunstwerk Alison und Peter W. Klein, Stuttgart, Deutschland

Choices 2, Galerie Conrads, Düsseldorf, Deutschland

three women, Galerie Patrick Ebensperger, Berlin, Germany

Hatje Cantz & Du Moulin, Bikini Berlin, Germany

Lieber Künstler zeichne mir, Semjon Contemporary, Berlin, Germany

Drive the Change, 100 Plus, Zurich, Switzerland 

Pitch 2, Baumgarten Brandt, Berlin, Germany

2013

Drawing a Universe, Kai10/Arthena Foundation, Düsseldorf, Germany

Das Gleiche nochmal anders / Über die Unmöglichkeit der Wiederholung, Galerie Andrae Kaufmann, Berlin, Germany

Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Kunst 1830 – 2014, Galerie Kuckei Kuckei, Berlin, Germany

Fièvre Verte, AgVa Contemporary Institut for Art and Thought, Berlin, Germany

2012Convoi Berlin, Biksady Gallery, Budapest, Hungary

Interview

1. How did you first become interested in art?

My parents were both highly creative people who always supported my sister’s and my own artistic ambitions. Our home was filled with painting, crafts and creative endeavors. When I was 18, I moved to Paris to work as an au pair, where I spent my free time exploring the museums, sketching people in cafes and parks, and making portraits of people close to me. My drawings began to receive some praise and attention from my immediate circle. Eventually, the father of my host family convinced me to study art, which opened up a new world of possibilities to me.

2. Could you describe your artistic process from start to finish?

Before I begin work on a new piece, I set out some basic rules and guidelines to create a conceptual framework. First, I decide on the format, colors, materials, and paper for the new work. I try to use a few resources as possible - usually just paper and ink.

I also make a few rules to help guide me during the drawing process. However, I never adhere too strictly to them, as sometimes the work will unfold in new and unforeseen ways as I draw it. I don’t make any preliminary sketches or plan the layout beforehand. The shapes and forms are created intuitively during the drawing process. I aim to draw in a fluid yet focused manner, with several repetitions. Every line is a reaction to the one before it, and no two are exactly alike. This creates an organic, flowing image.

3. What is the most fulfilling aspect of your work?

Stimulating every one of my senses. I love working with my hands - the feel of the paper, the smell of the ink, the sound of pen on paper, the sight of a line flowing across the canvas. I’m fascinated by the way the image gradually takes shape before my eyes. Every drawing I make inspires both questions and answers.

4. What role do you think art serves?

Art should speak to us. It should raise questions, help us to better understand the world and ourselves, and act as an intuitive and unspoken communication channel between people. Art should unite, heal and above all, bring us joy.

5. Which artist would you most like to meet, and what would you ask them?

Agnes Martin. While I’d love to discuss her childhood and life story, I think I’d prefer to just sit next to her in a desert and draw together in silence.

6. What is something that recently inspired you or made you think?

I’ve recently been thinking a lot about our mindless consumption of the planet’s finite natural resources.