VITA
After having worked in Public Relations for the European TV broadcaster ARTE and as instructor for «German as Foreign Language», art, literature and history at American universities and Goethe Institutes in Germany and abroad, today Dr. Beata Bieniek (BB) teaches German at the University of Bern (CH).
She had taught several summers German teachers acquiring their master’s degree at the Summer School of Millersville University (PA) and at the Summer School of Middlebury College (VT).
She graduated in 2001 from the University of Freiburg (D) with a master of arts and an additional qualification in “Philology of German as a foreign language”. She pursued studies in Slavonic, German and Romance Studies. 2010 she obtained her PhD in Slavonic Languages from the University of Mainz: „Bruno Schulz’ Mythopoesie der Geschlechteridentitäten. Der Götzenblick im Gender- Spiegel“. In her work she discusses the gender concepts in Europe at the turn to the 20th century by entering into a dialogue with the hereditary concepts of femininity.
The dominant conceptions of the female identity inherit from the Western Christian civilization as basis of the patriarchal culture («censored» conceptions), but they show their roots in the matriarchal forms of society («not censored» ones) in the ancient world and in the Jewish mysticism, the kabbalah. BB understands the body concepts of androgyny, masochism and fetishism in cultural and not in pathological context – as genders᾽ expressions of self-conceptions. The literary (Cinnamon shops (1934), Sanatorium under the sign of the hourglass (1937)) and graphic (Book of idolatry, 1920-22) work of the Galician author Bruno Schulz (1892-1942) provide the basis for her analysis.
BB discusses femininity intellectually via text and emotionally via image.
Born in Silesia, Beata’s family escaped from Poland to Germany in 1987 before the end of communist rule. Beata speaks six languages.
She started painting in 1995.
The dominant conceptions of the female identity inherit from the Western Christian civilization as basis of the patriarchal culture («censored» conceptions), but they show their roots in the matriarchal forms of society («not censored» ones) in the ancient world and in the Jewish mysticism, the kabbalah. BB understands the body concepts of androgyny, masochism and fetishism in cultural and not in pathological context – as genders᾽ expressions of self-conceptions. The literary (Cinnamon shops (1934), Sanatorium under the sign of the hourglass (1937)) and graphic (Book of idolatry, 1920-22) work of the Galician author Bruno Schulz (1892-1942) provide the basis for her analysis.
BB discusses femininity intellectually via text and emotionally via image.
Born in Silesia, Beata’s family escaped from Poland to Germany in 1987 before the end of communist rule. Beata speaks six languages.
She started painting in 1995.
Artists’ Statement
Beata Bieniek’s subject is the femininity. Her inspiration is the female body in its sensual power. While watching the paintings
the senses of the soul start swaying and vibrating. The fragmented female body expresses an emotional
and bodily disjointedness of femininity as seen in its conventional pattern, evoking pain and a deep and helpless longing for entirety. The necessity of nonverbal expression is reflected in the enthusiastic state of being, stressed by fiery colours red, orange and yellow – with warmth, dynamic movement and energy. The ink lines seem to capture the energetic brush strokes and bursting colours.
BB uses mostly acrylics, oil, ink and chalk on thick cardboard or on canvas.
Exhibitions
April 2007
Galerie „Kunstwerk Breisach“, Breisach (D)
Oktober 2007
Gewerbeakademie Freiburg, Freiburg (D)
Februar 2008
Hadid-Pavillon, Weil am Rhein (D)
Juni 2008
The Tea Lounge, New York City (USA)
Juni-August 2010
Amt für Bürgerservice, Freiburg (D)
Sept.-Dec. 2017
PLATZHIRSCH Boutique Hotel & BaR, Zürich (CH)
Tabea
(self portrait) 1999