ART CITIES:Berlin-Katinka Theis

An artist with a relentlessly “constructionalistic impulse” Katinka Theis works in the space between sculpture and architecture. Transforming structures from the world around her with the help of photo collage, objects and installations, she recontextualises them in what she terms a “new scenery”. Ranging from small-scale sculptures to larger interventions in public space, she analyses the “relationship between the political system and the individual human being”.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Scotty Enterprises Archive

For “Raumschall” her solo exhibition at Scotty Enterprises Katinka Theis created an installation that extends akin to the phenomenon of how sound spreads out in space, and that thus becomes space itself. Each element of the installation refers to monumental architecture and landforms and yet manifests itself into independent and abstract structures in space by relating to one another. Such as the formation recalling somewhat a mountain landscape does, when transforming into a honeycombed architecture consisting out of hundreds of rods, further anchored to the floor, thus shapes connect to the projection of a rotating disco ball. And, in turn, such object functions similar to a visual sound object by sending back sound in multiple directions. By doing so, sensual experience is being linked to crystalline sculpture and virtual image. As well the rotating ball as the ground work consisting of many individual elements raise questions of perception that points to Theis central working theme. It is whether art can evoke a physical experience such as those inherent in landscapes and architecture. However, by processing through Theis particular spatial conditions a linear perception is denied and the structure of space as a whole is being repelled to itself.

Info: Scotty Enterprises, Oranienstr. 46, Berlin, Duration: 29/7-13/8/16, Days & Hours: Thu & Fri 15:00-19:00, Sat 14:00-18:00, www.scottyenterprises.de