Susann Körner
Einmal waren ich und ein merkwürdiger Augenblick allein

A stormy see which, on closer look, turns out to be an obsolete poster reproduction, a ramshackle wall where a bunch of bread rolls cheerfully gathers, and traces in the snow that all of a sudden reveal a message: The photographs by Susann Körner exhibited at Esther Donatz Gallery are surprising and irritating at the same time. Similar to the short texts the artists writes, she focuses on phenomena of everyday life in mostly urban landscapes. Thereby, she pays attention to those details which are quickly overseen or even ignored. Susann Körner explores what falls victim to the ephemerality of the moment: Decaying buildings and objects unfold a visual power just as apparently flawless snapshots expose disruptions. With her photographic fragments of reality the artist not only demonstrates an extraordinary eye for found pieces, but an ability to point out new coherences.  

Although the locations are not specified, the interweaving of the depicted elements and their environment is central: Space and objects enter into a dialogue with each other and form a unit of suggestive complexity. Signs initiate new meanings and ways of interpretation. Susann Körner creates further cross-references by collecting her works in a comprehensive archive to eventually re-arrange and present them in diverse contexts. “Vicinities” and “after-images” evolve.

Likewise evocative are the short texts by Susann Körner of which a selection is shown at Esther Donatz Gallery. Based on observations of daily life sketched in a diary-like form, these reflect fragments of reality in their various manifestations ranging from poetic to bizarre. Susann Körner’s texts and photo works circle around phenomena of perception and memory as an ongoing process of searching. Susann Körner states: “Finding is never the end of searching; what is found remains a fragment even if it temporarily unites with other parts.”

Susann Körner (*1972 Schleswig-Holstein, lives and works in Hamburg) completed her studies of Visual Communication with majors in Artistic Photography, Typography, and Artistic Publishing at Hamburg State Academy of Art in 2006. She has shown her works and artist books in cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Prague and Milan. Institutional exhibitions include Kunstverein Ruhr, Essen, Westwerk and Kunsthaus Hamburg. It is already the second solo show that Esther Donatz Gallery dedicates to Susann Körner. In her first exhibition the artist presented “receipt poems” (Kassenbongedichte) and her long-term project Kassenbonwortschatz nach Sachgruppen – eine Sammlung.

Susann Körner will be present during the opening reception and read selected short texts.

Contacts

Esther Donatz
esther(at)galeriedonatz.de

Nadine Seligmann
nadine(at)galeriedonatz.de

Phone: +49 89 70 07 62 00