Selma Köran is a Berlin-based artist. Her interdisciplinary practice explores mythological narratives that examine the construction of female identity.
Positioning herself as a “dilettante” archaeologist, she draws on fictional narratives and weaves them together with historical events. By doing so, she exposes and challenges traditional perceptions of the cosmogenic reality of the female-perceived body and its assigned role within society.
Rather than reproducing conventional, linear narratives, Köran’s work embraces the creative potential of fragmentary juxtapositions. At its core lies the question: What happens when reality is overlaid with symbolism, and fiction is employed as a tool to shape collective consciousness? In revealing these processes, she demonstrates how the present can be continuously redefined through the fictional reparation of the past.
Her work is a radical and provocative challenge to hierarchical structures of collective storytelling, ultimately seeking to deconstruct the cultural residues of a patriarchal society.
CV
Soloshows
- 2023: Ortstermin // Moabiter Kunstfestival, Berlin, DE
- 2022: Art Athina // Zappeion, Athen, GR
- 2021: Alternation Of Ends // New Viewings // Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin, DE
- 2021: 6 1/2 Wochen - EXIT ATHENA // Folkwang Museum, Essen, DE
Groupshows (Selection)
- upcoming 25: Kunstfonds Stipendiaten Ausstellung // Kunststiftung Sachsen Anhalt, DE
- upcoming 25: Fluxusmuseum Experimental Film Prize // Fluxusmuseum, Paros, GR
- 2024: Rubezh - DEATH // Zazerkal‘e, Tbilisi, GEO
- 2024: Chrome47, Art City e.V // Alte Münze, Berlin, DE
- 2024: C*nt-a-vision, Hellavision Television // Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, US
- 2023: Istanbul Contemporary // Galerie Callirhoe, Istanbul, TR
- 2023: We tell ourselves stories in order to live // Callirhoe, Athen, GR
- 2022: New Viewings X-mas Special // New Viewings // Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin, DE
- 2022: Istanbul Experimental Film Festival // Istanbul, TR
- 2022: HyperHyper // Callirhoe, Athen, GR
- 2022: Back to Athens // Art Festival, Athen, GR
- 2022: Narrative Framings // Metamorphosis, Athen, GR
- 2022: VICA Art Film Festival // Venice Institute of contemporary art, Venice Beach, US
- 2022: AVIFF Art Film Festival // Cannes, FR
- 2021: Life on Planet Orsimanirana // Museum für Kunst und Handwerk, Hamburg, DE
- 2020: De naakte waarheid // Extrapool, Njimegen, NL
- 2019: The End of the world // Bjilmerplein 698, Amsterdam, NL
- 2019: Revolution or Bust! // Goleb, Amsterdam, NL
- 2019: Hellavisiontelevision // Trylon Cinema, Minneapolis, US
- 2019: TrashXploitation Filmfestival // Gloryhole, Paris, FR
- 2019: The long take // Cinema of the damned, 0T301, Amsterdam, NL
- 2019: Pijama Protest // Vondelbunker, Amsterdam, NL
- 2018: Communal Leaking // Macao, Mailand, IT
- 2018: Mingling for Chimera II // Macao Milano, Mailand, IT
- 2018: Cold Open Show // Iso Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL
- 2018: Desperate Attempt // PopupGallery, Alcamo, IT
- 2018: Academiae Biennial 2018 – Where Plato taught. Teaching art: Is it Art or is it a Fart? // Festung Franzenfeste, Bozen, IT
- 2018: TrashXploitation Filmfestival // Le Chlocher, Paris, FR
- 2016: Kreative gegen Rechts // Rath Galerie, Berlin, DE
Education
- 2019: Master of Fine Arts and Design, Dirty Art Department, Gerrit Rietveld Akademie (Sandberg Institut), Amsterdam, NL
- 2016: Bachelor Kommunikationsdesign HTW Berlin, Berlin, DE
Other
- 2024: Expertengremium für Rubezh, ‘International diaspora of émigré artists’
- 2024: Kunstfonds Stipendium
- 2021: BBK Atelier Förderungsprogramm
- 2021–2022: Bühne- und Kostüm ‘Kamilo Beach’ // Volksbühne Berlin
- 2019–2020: Artist Assistant von Saâdane Afif // Berlin
Publications
- 2023: Alem Magazin – 13 foreign artists to watch out for at CI Istanbul // TR
- 2022: Art Athina Catalogue // GR
- 2021: Art Magazin / Starters – Künstlerporträt / Ausgabe August 21 // DE
- 2021: Life on Planet Orsimanirana, Spector Books // DE
- 2021: EXIT ATHENA, Folkwang Museum // DE
- 2021: Folkwang Museum Podcast 15 – Als die dämmernde Frühe mit Rosenfingern erwachte // DE
- 2020: LUC Athens – Open love letters // GR
- 2019: Metropolis M – Endexamen Spezial, August / September Issue 2019 // NL
- 2016: Typodarium 2017 – Weltschrift (für VITO BICA, Berlin) // EU