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Project #19: Natalia Carstens
Our project space is open on Sunday, May 25th, from 12 till 5 pm. The artist is present.DavisKlemmGallery Projektraum, Kirchstraße 4, 65239 Hochheim am Main
Project #19: Natalia Carstens
THE ARTIST
Berlin-based Natalia Carstens is a photographer - and a craftswoman who knows her trade. She documents art fairs, exhibitions and art objects. She is passionate about space, especially interiors. Anyone who thinks of documenting as sober photography is not familiar with Carstens' eye: she is interested in depth, staging and structure. Her photographs are not emotionally charged, but full of suspense. They keep the gaze moving - not frantically, not indifferently, but concentrated and questioning.
THE MOTIFS
In the project space, she is showing three works from her series “Leerer Raum?!” (engl. "Empty Space?!"), in which she examines movie theaters empty of people. On display are three Berlin arthouse cinemas - not huge multiplexes with 500 seats, but smaller venues with a strong character. No popcorn cinemas with premium seats and 3D glasses, but curated programs driven by a passion for film. The architecture of these cinemas seems almost lavish - and usually remains hidden in the dark. This is precisely why they are suitable for Carsten's question: Empty space? Because although they are deserted, they carry history and atmosphere within them.
THE QUESTION
When is a room empty? That is the central question for Natalia Carstens. When there are no people in it? When it is unfurnished? Or when nothing has happened in it yet? Her works play with the idea that the use and meaning of a space always need to be taken into consideration. Other series by the artist show deserted clubs or swimming pools - places that are defined by their use. The presence of people echoes in them. Empty seats evoke the image of spectators. A club without people? A swimming pool without swimmers? A movie theater without an audience? The more a space relies on people, the more clearly their absence is felt.
REALIZATION
Carstens photographs booths at art fair, exhibitions and art objects for a living – documentary photography, but never neutral. She decides on details, perspective, focus, light and color - and thus she brings her own view into the picture. In addition to technical experience, intuition flows into her work. Her sense of space was also decisive in the “Empty space?!” series. She discovered many cinemas during the Corona pandemic - first online, later on location. Photographs were taken in bright light: glaring, revealing, like a spotlight on the last piece of popcorn. Her own position in the empty room - in the middle of the field of vision - also causes irritation. The feeling of being watched is palpable.
INSTALLATION
Three empty rooms in our empty project space. To make the photographs visible from the street, Carstens had them printed on large tarpaulins. Two movie theaters now face each other - like screens for each other. Empty rows of seats look at each other. A showdown between seats? And outside, the audience - the passers-by - stand opposite a movie theater without an audience. A double reflection: of gazes, of emptiness.
THE SPACE
The 20 m² room, in which pens and exercise books were previously sold, is now available to artists from the DavisKlemmGallery as a project space. Instead of regular but limited opening times, the room can be viewed around the clock: the entire room and thus the project can be viewed at all times thanks to the large window front. Changing projects, installations, works of art and artists can be discovered here. The current presentation will be on view until July 14th, 2025.
