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Bin in der Steppe / I was in the desert
artist Antje Schiffers
year 2002
language(s) German
location  KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, UZBEKISTAN, Widely spread over Central Asia.
region 0 everywhere (Everywhere)
index no. 10.0.01
media Book, DVD
about the media The book is a description of the whole project, the DVD was made by one of the participants. Duration DVD: 10 minutes.
 
Crayon on paper, 2002
Book cover
 
about the project In 2002 Antje Schiffers travelled through Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. During this travel she made paintings in exchange for food and accommodation. The subjects of her paintings were chosen by the host.
 
Each time Schiffers stayed as long as she needed to accomplish her work, five days at most. The paintings stayed with the hosts. Schiffers documented everything that happened during her stay. The book “Bin in der Steppe” is a report of her journey in drawings, pictures and texts.
in project language Antje Schiffers reiste von April bis Juli 2002 durch Russland, Kasachstan, Usbekistan und Kirgistan in der Rolle der Malerin, die Staffelei unter den Arm geklemmt. Für diese Wanderschaft suchte sie Gastgeber, die sie beherbergten und bot ihnen ein Tauschgeschäft an: Für Kost und Logis malte sie ein Bild, dessen Gegenstand der jeweilige Gastgeber auswählte.
 
Antje Schiffers wollte jeweils so lange bleiben, wie sie brauchte, um ihre Arbeit zu tun, maximal fünf Tage. Die Bilder verblieben bei ihren Besitzern. Das, was dabei passierte, hat sie dokumentiert. An der Dokumentation wirkten alle Beteiligten mit, also ihre Gastgeber und sie. Das Buch “Bin in der Steppe” ist ein Report davon.
 
about artist and participants The book is the result of, and was made with the participation of the hosts. The DVD was made by Jura Sarsenbajew and his family. They filmed the haymaking and edited it with guitar music. Jura heard about Antje Schiffers’ exhibition ‘Bin in der Steppe’ at Kunstverein Wolfsburg and sent the video by means of a friend from the village in order to support the artist and make her show a success.
 
Antje Schiffers (Heiligendorf, Germany) lives in Berlin. She is one of the initiators of myvillages.org. Much of her work deals with travelling. In a way, being in transit is the mode of her artistic existence; her journeys are based on exchange. Describing, documenting and communicating this process are part of her work.
 
organisations Kunstverein Wolfsburg
 
 
 
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