Birgit Graschopf's theme is dedicated to empowering femininity, whereby the uncanny, the mysterious and the unapproachable in connection with the feminine particularly attracts the artist. She relates this to selected places that are often abandoned, empty and vast.

Figures and shadows follow a precise pictorial composition and are coordinated with architecture and lighting conditions. Sometimes they appear shadowy, as if they were the ghosts of days gone by, when the chosen places were animated or planned as such. The shell and basic structures of the architecture are often visible and an indication of the interrupted, originally conceived function. This is directly related to the staged figures. A narrative intervention is inserted, a momentary interruption that highlights the current emptiness of the place, but is also a reference to interpersonal isolation within our society.

The focus is on the representation of uncanniness of women or of femininity as such. Uncanniness in its meaning is associated with danger, a loss of control, and thus a potential for empowerment from which the uncanny emanates.

Birgit Graschopf's oeuvre encompasses a multi-layered spectrum: photographs on sandpaper. A scratchy, rough material, but one that appears just as glittering, mysterious, and optically velvety.

Photographs on concrete. An outwardly cold, hard, repellent material, which, because she pours the concrete slabs herself, is very sensitive in texture, bubbles and different shades of gray arise on the plate, each self-cast plate is unique.

Photographs on cardboard, which is cut up and reassembled. The image on it is now fragmented and composed of many elements to a fragile appearing, depending on the angle of view changing, sculptural work.

And a special feature are her so-called "wall exposures" or "photographic frescoes": a photograph is exposed directly onto the wall, the entire room becomes the image carrier, architecture and image merge inseparably and open up new perspectives, axes of vision and imaginary spaces.

Birgit Graschopf lives and works in Vienna

2007 Diploma with Gabriele Rothemann, University of Applied Arts, Fine and Media Arts, Photography class

2003-2004 Hogskölan for Fotografi och Film, Gothenburg, Sweden

2007, 2013,2016/17 Guest Lecturer Photography Class Applied

Presentation Birgit Graschopf at the Vienna Contemporary 2023 >>>

Presentation Birgit Graschopf at the SPARK 2024 >>>

The photo shows the artist in her presentation at the stand of Galerie Rudolf Leeb at SPARK 2024
Photo credit: @eSeLat - Joanna Pianka @300dpi_photography

Nice video interview with the artist on SPARK >>>

CV

Birgit Graschopf - Wallexposures / Wall Exposures

www.birgitgraschopf.com

Photo works on sandpaper

Portfolio Walls Interrupted, Birgit Graschopf 2020

Museum Siam in Bangkok. Exhibition "Walls, Interrupted Vol. 2

Living with art >>>
Wall exposures by Birgit Graschopf in residential buildings in Vienna >>>