Marie von Heyl

“My work draws from the poetic friction and productive misunderstandings that emerge when different models of reality collide, overlap or not quite fit together. Of particular relevance are objects that serve as transmitters or mediators between different belief systems — cult objects, fetishes, spiritual or esoteric paraphernalia. Employing a variety of media, such as drawing, collage, film and text, my practice points at the beautiful, traces the uncanny and taps into the absurd. It is a playful dancing around things, characterised by formal richness and alchemic interconnectivity.”

The Cabinet series, completed in 2013 is “an assemblage of found virtual objects, created and photographed with the 3D software Sketchup. The warehouse function of this programme allows users to share their creations with the community. A sort of shopping frenzy lead to the maniac assembling and piling of the findings in the virtual space. Of particular interest were objects and paraphernalia that seem redundant in this clean and functional environment: knick knack, clutter, souvenirs and memorabilia.”

Marie Von Heyl was born in 1981 in Stuttgart, Germany. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Art, Stuttgart, the Weißensee School of Art, Berlin and the Royal Academy School, London. Her awards and grants include the Jerwood Drawing Prize (2013), the Deutsche Bank Award in Fine Art (2013), the Glenfiddich artist in residence (2013) and the RA Japan Scholarship in Tokyo (2012). She has held international solo exhibitions including Spinach agency, London, UK; Kunst- und Kulturzentrum Art Center, Monschau, Germany; Raum Herrnsheim, Berlin, Germany; Salong, Hamburg, Germany. Her work was also featured in group exhibitions: Kunsthalle Münster Art Center, Germany; Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK; Gerichtshöfe Tribunals, Berlin, Germany; Old Museum of Mankind, London, UK; Art Forum Ute Barth, Zurich, Switzerland; MuMoK, Vienna, Austria to name a few. Her work is part of many public and private collections such as Louise Clarke Collection, London, UK; Cini Foundation, Venice, Italy; Forbes Collection, New York, USA; Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK; William Grant & Sons Collection, Dufftown UK. The artist lives and works in Berlin, Germany.