Photo: Lucas Chelós
My artistic research focuses on the intersection of art, craft and natural sciences. In particular, I analyse scientific illustrations, terms and methods as they are applied in biology, astronomy or astrobiology and their multiple intersections in the analogue space and its digital expansion. Through a visual fusion of two divergent fields of modern science and the historical textile technique of embroidery, I create models of tactile and sensory qualities to facilitate intellectual access to scientific contents or to transform them into hypothetical forms following a speculative design. My work also draws on biomimetic approaches through concepts of textile hybrid matter by artistically fusing scientific methods and metaphors that make visible the reciprocal relationship of artificial interventions in natural resources and their natural adaptation to synthetic environments. Using an ongoing artistic-experimental laboratory, which simulates and analyses the connections between the inner, biological world and the phenomena of the universe, I conceive new contexts of perception in art and science, building a kind of knowledge space. My work is inspired by artists like Nancy Graves, Anni Albers, José María Sicilia, Neri Oxman and Laura Splan.
CV
ALEXANDRA KNIE *1984 in Mechernich, Germany
lives and works in Valenica, Spain and near Cologne, Germany
Alexandra graduated in Fine Arts from the Alanus University of Arts and Social Science in Alfter/ Bonn, Germany (2003-2007) and complemented her studies with Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Genova, Italy (2006) as well as Textil Design, Arts and Humanities at the University of Paderborn, Germany (2009). Her special interest is the artistic investigation of the intersection of art, craft and science. She has worked in textile techniques, most of all in machine embroidery and its digital extension, painting, drawing, screen printing and installation.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024-25 Ultra Deep, Saarländisches Künstlerhaus – studioblau, Saarbrücken, Germany (upcoming)
2024 Space Plants, Brühler Kunstverein e.V., Brühl, Germany (upcoming)
2023 Constellations, Veles e Vents, Valencia, Spain 〉
2021 Matter-Antimatter, Espai Nivi Collblanc, Castellón, Spain 〉
2021 Bio-embroidery – Studies of hybrid models, Centro Cultural CajaGranada, Granada, Spain 〉
2018 In-between – Microcosmo y Macrocosmo, Centre del Carme, Valencia, Spain 〉
2018 Estudios y Modelos Cósmicos, Casa de la Cultura, Castellón, Spain 〉
2015 Science + fiction. Über das Verhältnis von Vorstellung und Wirklichkeit, Städtische Galerie am Abdinghof, Paderborn, Germany w/ Kathrin Graf 〉
2014 Keine Idylle, Paderborner Bilderbogen, Paderborn, Germany
2012 Eine Virenkartographie, BBK-Galerie, Aachen, Germany
2012 Zu Tisch, bitte!, Raum für Kunst, Paderborn, Germany 〉
AWARDS | GRANTS
2023 Enclave Land Art Residency and Production Grant, Quesa, Spain 〉
2023 Cultura Online, Online Project Production Grant, Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana, Spain 〉
2022 Honorable mention I Premio de Arte Textil Contemporáneo, IAC Juan Gil-Albert, Alicante, Spain 〉
2021 NEUSTART für Bildende Künstlerinnen und Künstler, Digital Art Project Grant, Deutscher Künstlerbund e.V., Berlin, Germany 〉
2020 FACBA 21, Visual Arts Project Grant, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Granada, Spain 〉
2020 Cultura Online, Online Project Production Grant, Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana, Spain 〉
2020 Galerías VIII, Artistic Intervention Award, Department of Culture, Segovia, Spain 〉
2018 Cultura Resident, Artistic Research Grant and Residency at Museu de Belles Arts de Castellò, Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana, Spain 〉
2018 Honorable mention Painting Award XXIV Premi de Pintura Cuitat d‘Algemesí, Algemesí, Spain 〉
2016 Acquisition Prize ATP (Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal), Contextile – Contemporary Textile Art Biennial, Guimarães, Portugal 〉
TEACHING
2017, 2020 – 2024 Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Field of Textile, University of Paderborn, Germany 〉
2013 – 2016 Lecturer and scientific artistic researcher, Faculty of Art and Humanities, Field of Textile, University of Paderborn, Germany
2010 – 2016 Lecturer, Faculty of Design, University of Applied Science of Aachen, Germany
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selection)
2024 Diálogo de dos colecciones. Espai Nivi · MACVAC, Museu d’art Contemporani Vicente Aquilera Cerni, Vilafamés, Spain 〉
2023 Más que Humanos: Naturaleza, Biología y Sostenibilidad en el Arte, Open Art Festival, Centro Cultural Las Cigarreras, Alicante, Spain 〉
2023 Cultura Online, Centre del Carme, Valencia, Spain〉
2023 Hybrid Art Fair, Madrid, Spain 〉
2022-23 geliebt, gequält, gegessen, Museum Bünde, Bünde, Germany
2022-23 I Premio de Arte Textil Contemporáneo, IAC Juan Gil-Albert, Elche, Spain 〉
2022 X Bienal Internacional 25 WTA, Est_Art, Madrid, Spain 〉
2022 XXV Premio Fundación Unicaja de Artesanía, Centro Cultural Baños Árabes. Palacio de Villadompardo, Jaén, Spain
2022 Nadelwerk, Klosterscheune Zehdenick, Zehdenick, Germany 〉
2021-22 RESET. Krise/Chance, Kunstmuseum Ahlen, Ahlen, Germany 〉
2021 XII International Biennial of Textile Miniatures, Arka Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania 〉
2021 XXIV Premio de Artes Plásticas, Sala El Brocense, Cáceres, Spain
2021 Manufactum-Staatspreis NRW, Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Dortmund, Germany 〉
2020 Kompakt, Darmstädter Sezessionspreis, online 〉
2020 Galerías VIII, La Cárcel_Centro de creación, Segovia, Spain
2020 Cultura Online, Centre del Carme, Valencia, Spain 〉
2020 Mit Stich und Faden. Expressionistische und Zeitgenössische Kunst im Gegenüber, Museum August Macke Haus, Bonn, Germany 〉
2019 Manufactum-Staatspreis NRW, Museum für angewandte Kunst, Cologne, Germany 〉
2019 Premis ArtsFAD, Disseny Hub, Barcelona, Spain 〉
2019 Arte Aparte XI, Centro Cultural de La Carolina, La Carolina, Jaén, Spain
2018 Contextile 2018 – Contemporary Textile Art Biennial, Guimarães, Portugal 〉
2018 Claiming Needles, peer to space, online exhibition 〉
2018 Consilience of Art and Science, Pence Gallery, Davis, USA 〉
2017 Ciutat Vella Oberta – Bienal de las Artes de Valencia, Centre del Carme, Valencia, Spain
2017 Manu Factum, Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Dortmund, Germany
2017 Fiber Arts VIII, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, USA
2016 Contextile 2016 – Contemporary Textile Art Biennial, Guimarães, Portugal
2014 10. Euregionale Grafikausstellung, Ilse-Frankenthal-Stiftung, Brunssum, Netherlands
2014 Fünf plus, Museum Xylon, Schwetzingen, Germany
2013 Kunsttour Maastricht, Maison Ceramique, Maastricht, Netherlands
2013 Cologne Paper Art, Art Fair for graphics and paperworks, Cologne, Germany
2012 Einstiche. Sticken zwischen Kunst und Alltag, Galerie Ritter 17, Bremen, Germany
2011 West-Südwest, Künstlerbund Heilbronn, Heilbronn, Germany
2011 Nord-Art, Kunstwerk Carlshütte, Büdelsdorf/Rendsburg, Germany
CURATORIAL PROJECTS | LECTURES | MISCELLANEOUS
2023 Modelos Táctiles, ACT meeting, Museo del Traje, Madrid / artist talk 〉
2022 Herbst Digital #1, Deutscher Küntlerbund e. V., Berlin; Herbst Digital #2, Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig; Herbst Digital #3, Bibliothek Weitwinkel Dortmunder U, Germany / screening 〉
2021 5. Digitales Kunstgespräch, Kunstverein Oerlinghausen / artist talk 〉
2020 Werkschau FH Bielefeld, Modenschau WissensWerkStadt Bielefeld, with Andreas Stang, Bielefeld / collaboration
2018 Textile Kuriositäten, fivve, Cologne / collaboration
2017 Textiles Glücksrad, meeting: Textility – kreativ, heterogen, inklusiv, University of Paderborn / interactive performance
2016 den Faden ins Rollen bringen, in collaboration with FUD Paderborn and students from the University of Paderborn, KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project 〉
2015 #TBFM – Tauschbörse für Mode, in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn, KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project
2015 mit aus um über von durch…Papier – Barbara Hattrup, Claudia Piepenbrock, KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project 〉
2015 Ich teile – Textile Intervention, Kunst(be)griffe, University of Paderborn / lecture 〉
2014 Nebenwerk. Vom künstlerischen Prozess zum modischen Accessoire – Oder über das Design einer infizierten Kette, Accessoirée meeting, University of Paderborn / lecture
2014 Druckstoff, in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn, Bilderbogen, Paderborn / curatorial project
2014 Was ist mir heilig? Textile Interventionen, Museum Abtei Liesborn / curatorial project 〉
2014 Back to Black – Sebastian Freytag, Guido Münch, KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project 〉
2014 #meshtag, Pader-Kultour, Paderborn, in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn / curatorial project 〉
2014 Entschleunigung vs. Beschleunigung, in collaboration with Paderborner Kreaturen, KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project
2013 Ein Gemeinplatz, Pader-Kultour, Paderborn in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn / curatorial project
2013 100 % Öl – Kathrin Philipp, KleppArt, Paderborn, in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn / curatorial project
2013 skill sharing – ein Streetartprojekt, KleppArt, Paderborn in collaboration with Karoline Lis / curatorial project 〉
2013 Modeglam und Weihnachtsslam – work in progess Vol.2, University of Paderborn, in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn
2012 Gegenentwurf-B.connected – Lars Breuer, Kunstverein Paderborn and KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project
2012 is lekker! – Claudia Schumacher, KleppArt, Paderborn / curatorial project
2012 Modeglam und Weihnachtsslam – work in progress, in collaboration with students from the University of Paderborn, KleppArt, Paderborn / open workshop
2011 Zwischen den Fäden, h+h cologne, Koelnmesse, Cologne / curatorial project 〉
2010 Talentwerkstatt / Superwelten und SuperheldenIn: Ich sehe was, was du nicht siehst. Eine Werkschau von Künstlerinnen und Künstlern mit Autismus, akku – Autismus, Kunst und Kultur, documenta-Halle, Kassel / curatorial project
2010 Enthüllung, KleppArt, Paderborn in collaboration with Daniela Bergschneider / curatorial project 〉
BIBLIOGRAPHY