biographic

(the biographic notes are translated into german below)

 

a) an artist resume 

If I were born in West-Berlin, then I would have :

- been absorbed by the Punk-Movement in the 80s, 

- studied Art at Slade School of Fine Arts in London,(UCL) MFA in 1989  

- recieved my PhD about "the degree of abstraction in native art and the hierarchy of thinking", with great praise in 1992 at UCL  

- got a DAAD post-graduate-grant for a research project about "nativ elements in modern american art" at UArts Philadelphia, 1996-97 

 

b) "the truth" ;-)

I was born and raised in East-Berlin. Life is my school, the most precious one. I didn't see the point in studying Art in the East - what for (?): producing mass-design? Or becoming an artist loyal to the system? ...  This is why I refused a study at the prestigeous Kunsthochschule Hans Eisler, which has been offerd to me after winning the TV-painting competition on East-German TV. 

Instead, I worked in the tea-fields of Georgia, in a group for saving the forests devastated by the sour rain in southern GDR... 

And guess what, this truly made me an artist.

 

However, "knowledge is power"(F.Bacon, Firdausi) and my education, the traditionnal way, is this one:

- 13 years conservatory in violin and alto, examen in solo and orchestra, later playing free-jazz and texting for "die Räuber" (produced on Radio)

- I studied Economy and history, marketing and management(Humboldt University Berlin, ESCP Paris, Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education, High Wycombe, GB)

- I got my PhD with great praise in Economics about the quantity theory of money and the way of economic thinking, in 1992.

-And I learned the high school of photography as a student of Peter Schmidt, awarded best Cameraman in Reportage in 81, (thank you).

I co-led an advertising-agency, taught Economics, worked as researcher around Europe, taught colortheories in GDL and am full-time artist. ​

I moved for a couple of years to Philadelphia and became part of the vibrant and inspiring artists community there. Moved back for family reasons, I live and work now between Brussels and Berlin.

​

 



 

highlights :

​-1982 first prize at the german painting competition on TV

reception at the famous Albertinum Dresden, several broadcasted features

-1982 I got also a Radio Award with the Orchestra, in classical music, featured on national TV, and the 3. Place in the G.F.Händel-Festspiele, Halle (Germany)

 

-1989 photo-series "Portraits", b/w about London published by "der Morgen", Berlin

 

-2005 solo-exhibit "breasts" , Kulturhaus Miersch, Luxembourg, broadcasted on RTL-TV

 

-2007 selection for solo-show at the Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia

 

-2011 ART BRUSSELS

 

-2011 ArtintheOpen Philadelphia as Brussels Collective

 

-2012 Wiels, RTBF canvas-collectie

 

-2012 Cyclo-Kino for Nuit Blanche 2012  

 

​

 

credits :

http://videos.sudpresse.be/video/f5a58a4dd72s.html , la Tribune, RTBF, la Une,(7.10/12)

 

http://vimeo.com/51057352

 

1982 5 tv features about the winner of the painting contest "2. Programm"

 

2005 reportage RTL-TV about 30 pieces exhibit "breasts" and artists-portrait in Luxembourg

 

2007 City Paper Berlin-Bangkok

2007 abc-news about the exhibit "red-hot"

2010 brussels TV about Giants

2011 Le Soir, Victoire, sur le "cycle de l'ecole vétérinaire"

2013, Brussels Deze Week, 2 pages feature :-)

 

 

member of:

- DaVinciArtAlliance

- MainLineArtCenter

- LeGaulois

 

founding member of:

- Artists.B.Collective

- Brussels Collective

- TriologCompany

- Parents and Youngsters against Drugs

 

 

 

Als kleiner Bonus die Biographische Version nochmal in Deutsch: 

 

Biografisch

a) Eine Künstlerbiografie

Wenn ich in West-Berlin geboren wäre, dann hätte ich:

- an der Punk-Bewegung der 80er teilgenommen, 

- Kunst studiert an der Slade School of Fine Arts London,(UCL), MFA Abschluss (Master of Fine Arts) 1989

- meine Doktorarbeit über "the degree of abstraction in native art and the hierarchy of thinking", mit magna cum laude verteidigt, UCL 1992

- ein DAAD-post-Doktoranden-Stipendium finanziertes Projekt über "Native Elemente in der modernen amerikanischen Kunst" an der UArts Philadelphia 1996-97, 

gemacht. 

 

 

b) "die Wahrheit" ;-)

Ich bin in Ost-Berlin aufgewachsen. Leben ist meine kostbarste Schule.(this sounds much better in english, s.o.). Wozu hätte ich im Osten Kunst studieren sollen (?) mal ehrlich: designen für die Massenproduktion? Oder ein bekannter systemtreuer Künstler werden? ...  Ich habe ein Kusntstudium an der Hochschule für bildende KunstHans Eisler  abgelehnt, das mir angeboten wurde, nachdem ich den Kunst-wettbewerb des staatlichen Fernsehens gewonnen hatte. 

Anstelle dessen ging ich in die Tee-Ernte nach Georgien,und in eine Gruppe zur Rettung der durch den saueren Regen zerstörten Wälder im Süden der DDR... und ... 

Und das alles machte mich mehr zum Künstler als es wahrscheinich ein Studium geschafft hätte.

 

Nichtdestotrotz, "Wissen ist Macht"(F.Bacon, Firdausi) und meine Bildung, von traditionellem Standpunkt aus, ist diese:

- 13 Jahre Violine und Viola, Examen in Solo und Orchester, Free-Jazz, Songschreiber für "die Räuber" (im Radio produziert)

- Ich habe dann VWL und Geschichte, Marketing und Management studiert (Humboldt University Berlin, ESCP Paris, Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education, High Wycombe, GB)

- meinen Doktor mit magne cum Laude 1992 gemacht  über "the quantity theory of money and the way of economic thinking" (dieser Titel ist im Original etwas länger :-)).

Ich war mit an der Spitze einer Werbeagentur, lehrte Wirtschaftswissenschaften, arbeitete als Forscher in Europa 

in Frankreich als DAAD-post-Doktoranten Stipendiat 

- lehrte Farbtheorien im Grossherzogtum 

 

- Lernte die hohe Schule der Fotographie als Privatschüler von Peter Schmidt, bester Kameramann der Publizistik in 1981 (an dieser Stelle Danke)

und bin Vollzeit Künstler.

 

Ich zog für ein paar Jahre nach Philadelphia und Teil der lebendigen und inspirierenden Künstlergemeinschaft dort. Zog zurück aus familiären Gründen und lebe und arbeite seitdem zwischen Berlin und Brüssel als Künstler.

 

other exhibitions

2006 - “Views” Dada Gallery, Philadelphia, May
2007 - Members, Main Line Art Center, Lower Merion, Mars
2007 - Belmont Hills Art fair, Lower Merion, PA, April
2007 - "together" with Carey Maurice jr., former assistent of Keith Haring, Smile Gallery, Philadelphia
2007 - "Challenge", DaVinciArtAlliance, Philadelphia, May

2007 - "Inspiartion 1", DaVinciArtAlliance, Philadelphia, July
2007 - St. Asophs Church,”Inspiration 2”, Belmont Hills, July​​
2007 - Smile Gallery “Cercle of Friends”, September​
2007 - Blink-Art - Gallery on Chestnutstreet, old city, Philadelphia, 

with Ken Tutchamnon “Berlin- Bangkok”,
2007 - Galleria 1937, “Red hot”, at Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, at abc news

 

2009 - InterArtCity Brussels

2010 - "Kunst in Overijse", Overijse
2010 - "Imagination", Tour&Taxis, Bruxelles, 
2010 - "GIANTS, Art beyond dimensions", Nov., Tour&Taxis, Brussels
2011 - Biennale, Palais de la Folle Chanson, ArtistsBColelctive, Brussels

2011 - ART BRUSSELS 
 

2011- 12 - "Les Dimanches de l'Ancienne Ecoles des Vétérinaires" Brussels

2012 - Wiels, rtbf- canvas-collection

 

2013 - VertigoArt, Bruxelles, "Berlin-Brussels - Lettres & Chiffres 

 

 

2013 - Palais de la Folle Chanson, Artists.B.Collective, 

2014 - Itinerart, Bruxelles

2015 - Carte de Visite, Ville de Bruxelles

2015 - 4itudes, Bruxelles, Escale du Nord, Maison des Artistes

 

 

solo exhibits:
2005 - breasts, Luxembourg,
2006 - "Sky”, Dada Gallery,Philadelphia

2007 - Shadow Games” Manayunk, La Colombe, PA, June
2011 - Art Brussels ,"cars" installation

2007 - "Philadelphia", Jefferson Hospital Scott Memorial Library

2009 - "Horses", Barbizon, ​Overijse
2011 - "Brussels", Boycott Gallery Brussels

2013 - Cape Consulting, Brussels

2014 - "Pink Pubic Hair", Galeries St. Hubert, Brussels, 

2014 - "XXL" Villa Leopoldine, Bruxelles

2014, "und die die tanzten wurden verrückt gehalten von denen ... , " 4WändeMarie, Düsseldorf

 

festivals/ performances

1983-1989 - making of "Spectakel 1-4"Berlin, music,/ performances, with "die anderen', DEKAdance, Gerdt Schoene, Skeptiker.
2011 - Art in the Open Philadelphia, as Brussels Collective

2012 -  Nuit Blanche Brussels

1983-1991 Duo Bettina Kusel(violin) /Stephan Behr (guitar), Berlin,

1987 - "Kostume", Mensa Nord. Berlin 
1985 - Clothes 1, Club Med, Berin,
1986 - Clothes 2, Club Med, Berlin,
1987 - Clothes 3, alte Kapelle, Berlin 

 

 2012/ 2015:

- super/wo/man,

- cyclo-kino,

- triolog

- big brush