Babette Werner
Babette Werner is an art historian with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches dealing with time, space and transformation.
Werner is based at the Institute of Art and Visual History at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, holding a full scholarship by Gerda Henkel Stiftung. She works as a curator and writer and has developed and implemented interdisciplinary exhibitions and publication projects in the field of visual and performing arts for international art institutions including Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Kunsthalle Mannheim, Munich's Pinakothek der Moderne, and Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart – Berlin, Neue Nationalgalerie, Museum Berggruen, Alte Nationalgalerie).
In her thesis (supervised by Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle, Institute of Art and Visual History at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Prof. Dr. Stefan Neuner, University of the Arts Berlin) she researches on the analog and digital (re-)stagings of process-based and inter-media art from the late 1950s until today and their potential for sustainable archival and curatorial practices. At the intersection of art, ecology and technology, the focus is put on artist Otto Piene who experimented with natural phenomena, light and slide installations. Furthermore, she researches on aesthetic links between visual interpretations of natural phenomena and social dicourses in art and design and seeks to contribute to a genealogy of an ecological aesthetic.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
Articles in Edited Volumes
Werner, B. 2021. »Leon Billerbeck. Nothing Compares to You: Ataxia/Ataraxia.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2020/2021, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Gravenstein: ScandinavianBook, 38-61.
Highlighted by https://www.deichtorhallen.de/en/ausstellung/gute-aussichten-2022.
Werner, B. 2019. »Juliane Jaschnow. The Modeling and Staging of our Memory Mass: Recapitulation.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2019/2020, edited by Becht, S, Raab, J. 2019/2020. Gravenstein: ScandinavianBook, 64-75.
Highlighted by https://www.deichtorhallen.de/ausstellung/gute-aussichten-2020-2019.
Werner, B. 2018. »Robert ter Horst. Dances with Pixels: Playtime.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2018/2019, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Munich: Sieveking, 142-157.
Highlighted by https://www.deichtorhallen.de/en/ausstellung/gute-aussichten-2018-2019.
Werner, B. 2016. »George Condo. Stations of a Life.« In George Condo. Confrontation, edited by Kittelmann, U., Rappe, F. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 24-27.
Werner, B. 2016. »Marta Djourina. Between Media. The Dematerialization of the Everyday.« IBB-Preis für Photographie 2016 Berlin. In Marta Djourina, edited by Investitionsbank Berlin Universität der Künste Berlin, 22-25.
https://usercontent.one/wp/www.martadjourina.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Marta_Djourina_Zwischen_Medien-Die_Entmaterialisierung_des_Alltags_Text-Babette_Marie_Werner_IBB_Preis_fuer_Fotografie.pdf
Werner, B. 2016. »Mia Autio. Nothing is how it is: Variation of White.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2016/2017, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Trans. of Mia Autio. Nichts ist, wie es ist: Variation of White. München: Sieveking, 24-43.
Lukowicz, M., Werner, B. 2015. »Otto Piene. Biography.« In Otto Piene. Licht, edited by Arnhold, H., Lukowicz, M. Bielefeld: Kerber, 226-230.
Werner, B. 2015. »Maja Wirkus. Praesens || Present. Sculptural photography in space and image.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2015/2016, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Trans. of Maja Wirkus. Praesens || Präsens. Skulpturale Fotografie im Raum und im Bild. Heidelberg: DPunkt, 154-167.
Werner, B. 2015. »Otto Piene. Biography.« In Otto Piene. Rainbow, edited by Alemi, M Düsseldorf/Tehran: Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, 58-67.
Highlighted by https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/kunst-teheran-zeigt-erstmals-zero-kuenstler-otto-piene-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-150224-99-01144.
Werner, B, 2014. »The Proliferation of the Sun.« In Otto Piene. More Sky, edited by Jäger, J. Trans. of Die Sonne kommt näher. Berlin: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 4.
Highlighted by https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/kunst-und-architektur/otto-piene-in-berlin-die-sonne-im-nachthimmel-13049177.html.
Werner, B. 2013. »Alchemy of the Everyday.« Exh. cat., Kunsthalle Mannheim. In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Alchemie des Alltags. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 156-161.
Werner, B. 2013. »Optic - Haptic - Acoustic.« In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Optik – Haptik – Akustik. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 90-97.
Werner, B. 2013. »Prototype - Individual - Body Cover.« Exhib. cat., Kunsthalle Mannheim. In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Prototyp – Individuum – Körperhülle. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 162-167.
Werner, B. 2013. »The Image of the Human Being in Modern Age.« Exhib. cat., Kunsthalle Mannheim. In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Das Menschenbild in der Moderne. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 144-155.
Highlighted by https://www.kulturstiftung-des-bundes.de/en/programmes_projects/image_and_space/detail/sculpture_only.html.
Articles
Werner, B. 2014. »Otto Piene. More Sky.« MuseumsJournal, 03 (2014): 58-59.
Conference Proceedings
Werner, B., Caianiello, T. 2019. »Changing Media in Slide Installations. Digital and Analogue Stagings of Works by Otto Piene.« Presented at »Back to the Future. Riding the Slide Carousel«, Hamburger Kunsthalle, 18-19 January 2018. Bielefeld: Kerber, 114-134.
Highlighted by https://www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de/en/back-future-im-karussell-der-diakonservierung.
Werner, B. 2018. »Restaging the Proliferation of the Sun in 2014: The Digital Projections.« Presented at Light on/off: reconstruction and presentation of light installations on the occasion of the exhibition »Zero ist gut für dich: Mack, Piene, Uecker in Bonn, 1966/2016«, LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, 8 December 2016. Bonn/Düsseldorf: LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, 88–99.
Highlighted by https://landesmuseum-bonn.lvr.de/en/ausstellungen/archiv/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich.html.
Talks & Presentations
Werner, B. (Lecturer) About Clouds, Robots and the Sea – Thoughts on the Aesthetics of Metabolic Formations, Biodiversity and New Ecologies in Art and Design. Keynote at the Contribution to the exhibition Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 16 September 2021 - 4 March 2022, Tieranatomisches Theater, Berlin. Hybrid. 28 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7517/about-clouds-robots-and-the-sea-thoughts-on-the-aesthetics-of-metabolic-formations-biodiversity-and-new-ecologies-in-art-and-design
Werner, B. (Moderator), Rief, M. Identity by Repetition. Talk at the Artist talk with Marie Rief, Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin. Within the framework of the exhibition »Marie Rief. Identity by Repetition« at Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin, 15. September 2022 - 27. November 2022. Funded by Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien. 15 November 2022.
https://www.fkwbh.de/ausstellung/identity-repetition
Highlighted by https://taz.de/Die-Kunst-der-Woche-fuer-Berlin/!5879601/.
Werner, B. (moderator/organizer), Winkler, C. (organizer), Jordan, A. D. H. About Clouds, Robots and the Sea – Thoughts on the Aesthetics of Metabolic Formations, Biodiversity and New Ecologies in Art and Design. Artist talk with Anne Duk Hee Jordan and Clemens Winkler in conversation with Babette Marie Werner, Tieranatomisches Theater, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Contribution to the exhibition Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 16 September 2021 - 4 March 2022. Hybrid. 28 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7517/about-clouds-robots-and-the-sea-thoughts-on-the-aesthetics-of-metabolic-formations-biodiversity-and-new-ecologies-in-art-and-design
Werner, B. Strategies of (Re-)Staging process-based art by Otto Piene within the context of the 1960s. Talk at the Scaling Matters: From the Lab to the Field. Progress Presentations Doctoral Program, Landgut Stober, Brandenburg. Cluster Retreat 2022. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 13 September 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/9125/scaling-matters-from-the-lab-to-the-field
Werner, B. (Lecturer), Caianiello, T. (Lecturer), Changing Media in Slide Installations. Digital and Analogue Stagings of Works by Otto Piene. Keynote at the Back to the Future. Riding the Slide Carousel, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg. 1 January 2018.
https://www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de/en/back-future-im-karussell-der-diakonservierung
Werner, B. Restaging the Proliferation of the Sun in 2014: The Digital Projections. Talk at the Restaging ZERO. Light on/off: reconstruction and presentation of light installations, Slide Projections: Analogue vs. Digital. LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn. An interdisciplinary knowledge transfer meeting on the occasion of the Exhibition »Zero ist gut für dich: Mack, Piene, Uecker in Bonn, 1966/2016« at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, 26 November 2016 - 26 March 2017. 8 December 2016.
https://landesmuseum-bonn.lvr.de/en/ausstellungen/archiv/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich.html
External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies
Werner, B. 2020. PhD Scholarship. Gerda Henkel Stiftung Scholarship.
https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/
Memberships
Ninnis, K., Ströbele, U., Werner, B. et al. Since 2023. Art | Material | Ecology Working Group. Member.
https://www.zikg.eu/forschung/projekte/projekte-zi/arbeitskreis-art-material-ecology