Kassandra Triebel

CV

Born 1966 in Braunschweig. In 1987, I passed the advanced diploma for design and enrolled as guest student of photographer Ute Karen Walter at the Braunschweig University of Art, and completed an internship with the stage and costume designer Friederike Singer at the Theatre of Braunschweig.

Fascinated by the world of theatre, I trained as a make-up artist with the National Theatre of Weimar, following an apprenticeship as a hairstylist. From 1996 through to 2007, I worked as a make-up stylist at the Theatre of Lübeck.

Since then, I have been working as a freelance make-up artist for theatres and film productions, and as a freelance artist in Lübeck.

 

Exhibitions

 

1989   University of Art Braunschweig, Exhibition "Sehgang", class of photographer Ute Karen Walter.

1996   HKD Braunschweig  solo exhibition "Persona, the Mask"

März 2006  Gallery "Eigenart" Lübeck solo exhibition "Lichtgestalten"

Sept. 2006   Kulturwerkstatt Pronstorf solo exhibition "The animal"

April 2008   Internationale Art Show "Formart", Glinde

Nov. 2008  "Atelier Turan", Lübeck, solo exhibition light- objects

Mai- August 2009 "Artemis Galerie", Bremen, drawings

Sept. 2009 "Kunst im Hof", Kulturzentrum Hansastraße, Kiel, light- objects

7.12.09-13.12.09 Galerie du Couvent des Récollets, Cognac (France), light- objects

08.02.-28.02. 2010   Museum of the town Bad Schwartau "Men with beards and other self- portraits"  (pictures in oil and acrylic, solo exhibition)

26.6.2010  Kunstbörse Spandau, Berlin (light-objects)

09.10.-19.12.2010  "Atelier Brandt Credo", Bremen solo exhibition (drawings and light- objects)

Dezember 2010  Gallery-bar "Kostbar", Munich- Schwabing solo exhibition (light- objects)

 

Film performances

22.10.2009 International Shortfilm Show "Kulturzentrum Hansastrasse", Kiel  ("Ask the neighbour!")

07.02.2010  Museum of the town Bad Schwartau, Vernissage ("When I was old")

20.03.2010 Shortfilmslam "Slamarama", Filmhaus (Cinema) Lübeck ("When I was old")

 

 

My Focus of Work:

Painting

I acquired a basic knowledge of chromatics and the use of tempera/water- colours at the art college. And my training as a make-up artist then deepened my understanding of aethetics and various means of expression. I have, however, never taken any painting lessons.

I am a self-taught painter in oil and acrylic colours. I My previous work, my  "self- portrayals" can be devided in three different stages:

 

Stage 1 (2007): From the Inside. From a piece of reference, which fades into oblivion during painting; inner pictures and persons are brought to light.

 

Stage 2 (2008): Impressionist Features. Painting from memory without any piece of reference. The person, not a particular one, and his  environment fuse together into a landscape.

 

Stage 3 (2009-to date): Expression and Abstraction. A more liberal approach at forms. Plaster is added as plastic element.

 

Drawing

 

Drawings, divides into drawings in pencil, charcoal and ink.

At the art college, I learnt how to use the rapidograph. Unless they have dried up, I like working with these technical pens, which facilitate a very fine work, but also with quill and paintbrush. It takes dedication!

These drawings are fragile, yet expressive.

Lighting

The light-obejcts are an idea of my own, they have been developed from the traditional way of making masks. I first shape a form  from clay or plaster, and I then, in a complex process, layer by layer, produce a positive cast from synthetic resin.

 

Unlighted, these objects look like sculptures and seem to be made of ceramic or stone. Once you light them from the inside, they appear to be semi-permeable, hidden structures and other, often contrasting, features become visible.

 

Therefore, I see my lighted objects not only as decorative lamps, but also as elusive objets d'art.

 

Transforming

 

These transformations are a synthesis of my work as a make-up artist and my ambition as a photographer.

Part of my work was made at the theatres I used to work: backstage situations - creating a scene on its own.

 

Another part of my photographic work consists of styling portraits for advertising and websites.

 

The more artistic pictures of transformation present make-up off the trodden trails: improvisations, which are perfect in their imperfectness; traces, a hint of history, more imagination then fantasy, leaving all cliches aside.

 

Finally, I learnt to appreciate digital photography, but I still use the old-fashioned analog photography as well, making black and white pictures in the darkroom.

 

Make-up Art

 

I further work as a freelance make-up artist at theatres and for film productions, as well as for private occasions, such as weddings, carnival or other projects.

 

 

Film

 

In 1997, I found my camera man and discovered filming with super 8. Apart from experimental sequences, I have been making six short films, which I scriptwrited, directed and cut (with adhesive tapes - it is rather sensational that this technique still exists).

1997  "Der Dachfürst" (Lord of the roof) Super8, 7 Min., colour, silent

1998  "Enter Hamlet"  Super8, 3 Min. b/w, sound

1999  "Les Préludes"  Super8, 17 Min. colour and b/w, silent

2006  "Es" (It) Super8, 15 Min. colour and b/w, silent

2008  "Frag den Nachbarn!" (Ask the neighbour!) Super8, 9 Min. b/w, sound

2010  "Als ich alt war" (When I was old)  Super8, 17 Min. b/w, silent

 

Here, too, the advantages of digitally processing become visible, which is why I had, at last, transferred the last films, and with the professional help of the musician Uta Reimann, did a good job in synchronizing them.

But, after all, Super8 has its special character, which you can neither create nor imitate with all digital means possible. As long as the Super8-cameras hold out, this incredible medium won't die out.