Statement
In my work, there are two important, continuous features: On the one hand, I am interested in materially oriented work within specific spatial situations, on the other hand my work examines the topic of contemporary “Africa”.
In the last five years, I have been dealing intensely with the discourse about contemporary art produced on the African continent. Several long sojourns in central African Cameroon and the close contacts to the local art scene enabled me to implement diverse projects. In terms of content, these projects aimed at questioning stereotypical imaginations of “Africa” and to take up and contribute to discourses on contemporary art from “Africa”.
Partly, these projects have a very intermediatory and networking character – this is due to my conviction that communication and mediation are indispensable. Contemporary art from “Africa” more often than not still tends to be placed into categories which do not come up to the discourses of the artists.
This theoretical and communication-based mode of working has provided me with a solid background knowledge. However, recently I have started to reduce my team oriented project work. For the moment, I can not find any possibility to continue it in an innovative manner – to propose meaningful projects which truly facilitate mutual encounters on a fair basis, is at times quite difficult.
My present shift of interests is directing toward a rather individual and object-oriented approach.
Currently, I am attracted by three-dimensional issues. The hands-on work with material, space and history enable me to process my experiences and observations of the last years. The focus is turning increasingly to my subjective view on the global context in which I find myself, on the history, and my very subjective perception of “being in the world”. Dichotomy, craft, material as an information carrier, historical references and socio-political issues on a global scale may serve as key words to describe my current art works.
Dunja Herzog, 2009
Ohne Titel, 2009 - Gips, Draht, Spachtelmasse, Graphit - 30cm x 45cm x 30cm
Café Tropic, 2010
Vano, 2009