Published in January and February 2022, Kunst Kopfüber / Art Upside Down is a collaborative project between The Goethe-Institut New Zealand and Contemporary HUM that explores the artistic journeys of six contemporary artists from Aotearoa who found a new physical and artistic home in Germany. The series features profiles by six international writers and curators, offering insights into the artists’ practices across a range of mediums, from video art and painting to large-scale installation and poetry.
The profile pairings are: Jan Byrant on Sam Rountree Williams, Claude Kempen on Hinemoana Baker, Michael Biedowicz on Freya Copeland, Anna Gritz on Michael Stevenson, Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua on Juliet Carpenter, and Maja Wismer on Ruth Buchanan. The series artwork was created by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.
My contributions
I was instrumental in initiating, developing and overseeing Kunst Kopfüber / Art Upside Down, and my responsibilities included:
- Conceptualising the project, defining scope and objectives, and liaising between participating artists and international writers/curators and The Goethe-Institut New Zealand.
- Providing content guidance, reviewing texts and ensuring profiles effectively showcased artists’ work.
- Coordinating publication on the websites of The Goethe-Institut New Zealand and Contemporary HUM, and developing and executing a dissemination strategy to promote the series.
Project impact
The series provided a platform for Aotearoa New Zealand artists to connect with international audiences and fostered cross-cultural dialogue by highlighting their experiences within the German art scene.
