Claudia Michaela Kochsmeier
2009 Swing Space Resident, 125 Maiden Lane, 9th Floor
Claudia Michaela Kochsmeier calls herself a daydreamer. In order to acquire a more realistic view of things, she completed an apprenticeship in carpentry and subsequently learnt sculpture. She spent two years working as a stage sculptress at theaters, making things out of polystyrene such as angels, rocks, trees or animals. At the same time she began her university studies with Prof. Harald Klingelhöller at the Academy of Arts in Karlsruhe, Germany. After passing the intermediate diploma in 2000 she decided to transfer to the Braunschweig University of Art, so as to enroll in Birgit Hein's classes for Video and Film. She graduated successfully in 2003. As a result of her special qualifications, she was able to become Prof. John Armleder's Meisterschülerin (master-student) in 2004. Group- and individual exhibitions ensued in Germany, Poland, Macedonia, Belgium and Togo/West Africa. A scholarship granted by the DAAD allowed her to travel to Senegal once in 2007 and again in 2008. Her current work focuses recently on the artistic space between the West and Africa. Claudia is based in Berlin.
In the Swing Space program Claudia Michaela Kochsmeier will work on “signs of joy” which evolves and develops out of the movement and enthusiasm for being and the potential between the “West” and “Africa”. The driving force is the interest with the experienced differences between the continents.
