Olivia Pils is a visual artist based in Berlin. In her work she tells surreal stories of the body and technology, of attraction and discomfort. As a trained social anthropologist, she is as well concerned with questions of social coexistence with a feminist subtext.
Her visions are staged in narrative landscapes and sculptures with sound collages, light and motors and develop a sensual presence in the space.The objects are composed of different materials such as porcelain, ceramic, wax, hair, silicone, latex, Plexiglas and stainless steel and, through their fragmentation, resist a high-gloss aesthetic.
The experience of art takes place on a non-intellectual level and emotions such as attraction and alienation leave room for personal reflection and interpretation in their ambiguity.
Olivia Pils holds a diploma of sculpture/ceramics of Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle and a MA in social anthropology of Freie Universität Berlin. Her installations have been shown a.o. at Galerie Paul Scherzer/Halle, Walden Kunstausstellungen/Berlin, Meinblau/Berlin, hinterkonti/Hamburg, in Prague, Kroatia and Vevey.
As extended voice/sound performer FAKE mistress she has appeared on stages and festivals world wide, such as Mini Midi Festival Beijing, Noise Nod Prague, Odd Pop Maastricht, Shanghai, London, Paris, Skulpturenpark Hannover and Fuck Parade Berlin. Since 1992 she has organised various events in the independent sub culture scene of Berlin, has been member of the collective Czentrifuga and co-founder of Salon Bruit e.V.
Her musical portrait of women murderers has been performed in Schaubühne Lindenfels /Leipzig, Zentralwerk/Dresden and theater festival at.tension by seven artists while she played the music live on stage.
Kontakt: opils@posteo.de
instagram: instagram.oliviapils
EDUCATION
2022 Diploma Sculpture/ceramic – Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle
2004 Master Social Anthropology – Freie Universität Berlin
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2024 Work grant – Keramikkünstlerhaus Neumünster
2023 Award of Recognition – Stiftung der Saalesparkasse
EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2024
Madonnen – Galerie Paul Scherzer, Halle
Ceramic Artist Exchange/Tandem (duo) – Keramikkünstlerhaus Neumünster
2023
TERRA INCOGNITA – oechsner galerie, Nürnberg
darüber hinaus – Burggalerie im Volkspark, Halle
2022
biomorphic solutions (solo) – Galerie Paul Scherzer, Halle
Übersetzung – Ausstellung zu 500 Jahre Bibelübersetzung, Eisenach
3. Porzellanbiennale – Albrechtsburg, Meissen
2021
9:9:2 – KW Institut für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin
Von uns – Blech, Halle
2020
Stockschwamm – Galerie Handwerk, München
2018
A Perfect Week-end For Bananafish – Pose, Istanbul
2015
Le Jardin Artificiel (solo) – Friche-et-nous, la Paix, Paris
2014
post.apocalyptic.eden (solo) – MEINBLAU, Berlin
2013
Screening – Künstlerhaus Sootbörn, Hamburg
2012
The Garden of Earthly Delights (solo) – Projectroom OHP9, Maastricht
The Inside Outside Show (duo) – Walden Kunstausstellungen
2011
Future Bodies-Amusement Art (solo) – hinterkonti, Hamburg
Wunderland II – MICAMOCA, Berlin
SOUNDPERFORMANCES (SELECTION) AND RELEASES
2016
Maria Tarnowska – eine Szene (together with Johanna Olausson) – radiofeature on Deutschlandradio Kultur
2015
Tödliche Frauen, soundperformance with 7 performers – Theaterfestival at.tension, Lärz/Schaubühne Lindenfels, Leipzig/Zentralwerk, Dresden
entertainted – CD release
2012
Der Plan – Skulpturenmuseum Marl
Performance – Experimental Theater, Usti nad Labem
Great True Crime Stories – CD and booklet release
2011
LINKfest, London
2010
Mini Midi Noise Festival, Shanghai
2Kollegas, Beijing
2009
terrorotic – Vinyl release
Sind im Garten – Willhelm-Busch-Museum, Hannover
2008
NoiseNod, Festival for Soundart, Prague
arie antique – CD release
2006
Ni muzique Festival, Tienen (BE)
2004
4. Internationale DADAfestspiele, Zürich
2001
1. DADAfestspiele im Cabaret Voltaire, Zürich