Post-Distance

Josephine Hengstwerth

BA (Hons) Fine Art, Yr3
Josephine Hengstwerth josephinehengstwer.wixsite.com/artsite jo.hengstwerth@gmail.com
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Yr3
2021
#Photography
pages of artist book
Uberreste, photographs in hardcover book, 2021

UK based artist, born and grew up in Germany, now in final year of BA Fine Art course at Birmingham City University. 

My work over the past three years has made a shift from Painting and Drawing based practice to a multi-media approach including Textiles, Performance, Photography and Installations. In my work, I reflect on my personal struggle with national identity, displacement and feminist issues. 

In my current project I am focusing on my grandmother’s experience as a refugee in Germany during and after WW2. For this I use different materials and found objects such as an armchair, matchboxes, textiles and lately my garden shed to reflect on the emotions my grandmother might have felt and to relate them to my personal anxieties. I believe that history can be used as a tool to deal with contemporary crises such as COVID-19 by reflecting on past real and lived experiences. 

Having worked aside Birmingham based Artist Karen McLean who focuses on similar themes, I have been strongly influenced by her as an artist, mentor and friend. Other artists that had an influence on me include Louise Bourgeois, Sophie Calle and Cornelia Parker.

Post-Distance

Post-Distance is a crucial display of work by final year, graduating BA (Hons)Fine Art students. It represents their commitment and ingenuity, a testament to their resilience at the end of a difficult year. Working across different media and contexts, this exhibition highlights what is possible, how limitations need not restrict and how it is always a good time to be artist.

Peers & Collaborators

Josephine Hengstwerth
Josephine Hengstwerth
Post-Distance
#Photography
pages of artist book
Lin Li
Lin Li
PHASED
#MA Arts and Project Management #Performance #Photography
Ines Leicester
Ines Leicester
Post-Distance
#Photography #Sculpture
collage intervention
Shuyi Xie
Shuyi Xie
PHASED
#MA Contemporary Arts China #MA Courses #Moving Image