Exhibition featuring watercolours and photographs
Multimedia artist Kirsten Kötter is exhibiting at the Rodgau Gallery from 18 November to 13 January. Under the unusual title “Reindeer eats leaves at midnight”, she is showcasing, amongst other things, objects featuring Finnish motifs. At the heart of her artistic oeuvre are her so-called visual ‘protocols’. For over 30 years, the former Städel student has been documenting scenes in nature and the city using watercolour, video and sound. This has resulted in a vast body of work comprising over 1,000 watercolour ‘protocols’, for which Kirsten Kötter has travelled all over the world. The time and place of creation, as well as the weather and temperature, are noted for all these watercolours. Some are accompanied by video and sound records. In the gallery, a large montage of photographs and watercolours will be on display alongside many small watercolours, including the recorded details.
Works by the artist
Her works form part of projects addressing socio-political themes: for instance, Kirsten Kötter spent an extended period painting in a mosque and, in 2015, at a refugee centre in Berlin. Another project explored the urban changes brought about by the establishment of international high-tech firms in Germany and Ireland. Over an extended period, the internationally exhibited artist documented her time at the subarctic Kevo research station in Finnish Lapland. Text-and-image watercolours were also created during sessions of political bodies such as the Bundestag, state parliament and district council, as well as at academic lectures. ‘Reindeer eats leaves at midnight’ is the title of a watercolour-video-sound record. The records depict processes, developments and transformations. In summer, the sun does not set north of the Arctic Circle. This geographical location gives rise to the region’s specific flora and fauna. The watercolour record captures the distinctive qualities of the light and the setting. The majority of the records were created in the natural environment. These illustrate the passage of time and the changing seasons. The artist, who trained at art colleges in Mainz, Kassel and Helsinki, also presents videos showing the creation of the records.
Vernissage and dates
An extraordinary exhibition that goes beyond the confines of a simple display on the wall and encourages visitors to reflect and engage with the work. The artist will be present at the opening on 18 November and will be available to answer questions. The gallery is open on Wednesdays from 6 pm to 9 pm and on Sundays from 2 pm to 6 pm. Admission is free. A date for a guided tour during the exhibition will be announced in due course.