About

During my studies of fine arts at the Hochschule der Bildenden Künste in Saarbrücken and Rennes, photography became the most important medium of my artistic work. It allows me to make my specific perception visible to others. Since 2006 I have been working as a freelance artist and exhibit internationally. For me, every exhibition is an intensive dialogue with the space. My photographic works change it and vice versa, the space also has an effect on the works. If this dialogue succeeds, both sides win. As a teacher in the field of artistic photography since 2007 I pass on my knowledge and experience, impart contents and strategies of photography and accompany creative processes.

Statement

A main theme of my artistic work is the perception of space and pictorial space. I deal with questions from abstract and concrete-constructive art. With my work, I also investigate how these can be realized with the medium of photography. With the camera, I can capture my view, let it become a picture, and make it visible for others. The striving for abstraction and a clear, concise visual language has led me to cut the photographic image irregularly. For me, this corresponds to an adaptation to human vision: our visual process focuses and at the same time fades out the less important. I explore the possibilities at the limits of the medium and release photography from the convention of the rectangular panel painting. In this way, I open up new fields of perception. I am interested in the moments in which the clarity and thus the certainty tips over when the viewer's consciousness starts to sway over what is above, below, in front or behind and when the legibility of the motif changes. The initial irritation challenges the viewer to pause and consciously observe.

Education

  • 2005 - 2006 I Meisterschülerin von Sigurd Rompza, HBKSaar, Saarbrücken (DE)
  • 1999 - 2006 | Freie Kunst, Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar, Saarbrücken (DE) bei Sigurd Rompza, Diplom
  • 2003 - 2004 | Ecole régionale des Beaux-Arts de Rennes (FR) bei Adalberto Mecarelli

Institution (Work Experience)

  • 2014 - heute I Leitung des Fotokollegs und Dozentin für Künstlerische Fotografie, vh Ulm, (DE)
  • 2017 | Dozentin am Aicher-Scholl-Studienkolleg, HfG Ulm (DE)
  • 2007 - 2014 | Dozentin für Grundlagen der Fotografie, Akademie für Kommunikation in BW, Ulm (DE)
  • 2006 - 2018 I Dozentin an der Kunstschule für Jugendliche, Ulm (DE)
  • 2006 | Lehrauftrag an der HBK Saar, Saarbrücken (DE)
  • diverse Vorträge im In- und Ausland

Selected Awards

  • 2021 | Projektstipendium, MWK Baden-Württemberg (DE)
  • 2017 I Artist in Residence, Altes Spital, Solothurn (CH)
  • 2017 I 2. Preis, Opus-Fotopreis (DE)
  • 2015 I Artist in Residence, Kaunas Photographic Gallery (LT)
  • 2014 I Kunst am Bau, Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeut. Forschung, Saarbrücken (DE)
  • 2010 I 1. Preis Kunst am Bau, Neubau des THW Göppingen (DE)
  • 2008 - 2010 | Atelier- und Arbeitsstipendium der Pro Arte Ulmer Kunststiftung (DE)

Selected Exhibitions/Publications

  • Ausstellungen / Exhibitions:
  • 2022 | Kunstverein Wolfenbüttel (DE)
  • 2022 | Kunstverein Schwäbisch Hall (DE)
  • 2021 | zs art Galerie, Wien (AT)
  • 2020 I Künstlerhaus Dortmund, Dortmund (DE)
  • 2019 I Smudajescheck Galerie, München (DE)
  • 2019 I Eboran Galerie, Salzburg (AT)
  • 2019 I artgenève, Genf (CH)
  • 2018 I Institut für konstruktive Kunst und konkrete Poesie, Rehau (DE)
  • 2018 I schauraum multipleart, Zürich (CH)
  • 2017 I Künstlerhaus S11, Solothurn (CH)
  • 2017 I in focus galerie Burkhard Arnold, Köln (DE)
  • 2017 I Red House, Sofia (BG)
  • 2016 I Kaunas Photographic Gallery, Kaunas (LT)
  • 2015 I Kunsthalle Weishaupt, Ulm (DE)
  • 2014 I Vasarely Museum, Budapest (HU)
  • 2012 | Museum Simeonstift, Trier (DE)
  • Publikationen / Publications:
  • 2022 | Esther Hagenmaier: BILDFALLEN, Ulm (DE)
  • 2021 | 1000 WIrklichkeiten - 100 Jahre GDL / DFA, Hrsg: DFA, Hamburg (DE)
  • 2019 I Bilder ohne Kamera, Sammlung SpallArt (AT)
  • 2018 I Visual Field_Sichtfeld, d/engl (DE)

Personal Website

http://esther-hagenmaier.com

Esther Hagenmaier | Aktueller Lebenslauf

Esther Hagenmaier | Aktueller Lebenslauf

CV

Format:

PDF Presentation

Works

Esther Hagenmaier | shaped photographies (2009 - today)

Esther Hagenmaier | shaped photographies (2009 - today)

The initial theme for my 'shaped photographies' is architecture. By cutting I adjust the photographic image according to my perception: Removing unimportant parts allows me to condense and emphasize references already existing within the image. This procedure could be perceived as an imitation of the human way of seeing: We focus on the area we find interesting, and block out what is not important. Due to the free geometric shape the image extends into the room. The photographic image distances itself from the mere reproductive function and turns into a visual and perceptive field.

Format:

Photo / Video

Esther Hagenmaier | BildRaumObjekte (2009 - today)

Esther Hagenmaier | BildRaumObjekte (2009 - today)

These photographic works are in fact three-dimensional image objects. They are created in different ways: for example by joining two motifs at a visible distance from each other; by combining a photographic element with a monochrome white surface; by folding the image. My aim is to break down the boundaries between photography and object, to further open up the concept of the image and to create further levels of perception.

Format:

Photo / Video

Esther Hagenmaier | photograms - cameraless photography (2009 - today)

Esther Hagenmaier | photograms - cameraless photography (2009 - today)

For the photograms I generate every single element in the darkroom: I use individual stencils for every triangle. Different exposure times deliver a range of shades between black and white. This technique allows me to create geometric compositions with a strongly three‐dimensional effect and a slight optical illusion. The sculptural effect is constantly shifting without evoking a clearly perceptible figure. The images have irregular cutout shapes.

Format:

Photo / Video

Esther Hagenmaier | exhibition views (2013 - today)

Esther Hagenmaier | exhibition views (2013 - today)

A choice of some exhibition views from 2013 to 2020.

Format:

Photo / Video