Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin

German-Japanese Dialog “Somewhere between Walking and Dreaming” Photographs by Satô Akiko and Mireille Schellhorn

Opening Hours: Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. until 4.30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. unt 3.30 a.m.
Duration: until April 4, 2008

Both artists Satô Akiko (born 1969) from Japan and Mireille Schellhorn (born 1971) from Germany met to discuss art at the Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin (JDZB) and to present their latest photographs.

The couple has enjoyed long-term intensive exchanges, which is manifested in this first exhibition together. Both artists trace their motives in an urban context, whereby each is predominantly interested in the natural landscape of modern cities. The very original and to a certain degree visually bizarre photographs reveal unusual samples of the interaction between nature and architecture, and tread a fine line between reality and a surreal dream world.

Satô Akiko discovers her motives when walking through cities, driven by the question of how humans and nature co-exist in various locations around the world. By using contrasting colors that have an artificial effect, the pensive and evocative city landscapes, devoid of all people, retreat into the silent distance.

Mireille Schellhorn’s work focuses on capturing at night various park landscapes, water lily ponds or office buildings. Actual motives of nature are mixed using digital processing to achieve artificial effects, whereby they illuminate beyond their initial inconspicuousness and suggest new perspectives.

Mireille Schellhorn
Born in Hanau/Main in 1971

2006 awarded a junior artist grant by the Art Foundation NRW, Dusseldorf, for the work Electric-Park
2001-2006: photographer for the music magazine SPEX, Cologne
Since 1999: lives and works in Cologne
1993-98 Studied Product Design/Textiles, FH Niederrhein, Krefeld; Diploma – Product-Design, Prof. Rolf Sachsse


Satô Akiko
Born in Hokkaidô /Japan) in 1969

2003-2006 lived in Ôsaka, Japan
2003 Master student of Prof. Rosemarie Trockel
1998-2003 Studied at the Academy of Arts, Dusseldorf
1995-1998 Studied at the College of Design, Saar
Since 1990: lives and works in Cologne


This exhibition was made possible with funds by Sander Digital Pictures Ltd, Cologne

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