Sabine Jeanne Bieli
The theme of my work is light - and thus also darkness - or rather, this moment when light meets matter: luminosity. Thread forms the staple of my sculptures and site-specific installations. It is the medium to build surfaces and bodies that capture and redefine space. The work I create is ultimately a reflection of inner landscapes in dialogue with the surrounding. Textile techniques, detached from their traditional context and purpose, form the grammar of my sculptural language; and then, as with texts, the essence lies between the lines.
SJB, January 2018
Born in Basel, Switzerland, I studied textile art and design at the 'Schule für Gestaltung' before working for the costume and stage props workshops of the 'Basler Stadttheater' (Theatre Basel).
The experience I gained from work on building sites, in a fine mechanics workshop, and as a nurse aid in hospital all have influenced my practice as an artist. In 2001 I moved to Hull, England, where I since work and live.
COMMISSIONS
- 2022 USM CONNECTS: Ein Austausch über Zusammenhänge, Zirkularität und Zukunft / Berlin / DE
- 2016 Da Vinci Engineered Renaissance Mechanics to Contemporary Art /
commissioned by AMY JOHNSON FESTIVAL / Hull / UK - 2013 Humber Dreams / commissioned by Humber Mouth Literatur Festival 2013 / Hull / UK
- 2012 Shoal / commissioned by Artlink on the occasion of their 30th anniversary / Hull / UK
- 2009 Sounding / commissioned by FringeMK installed at Midsummer Place / Milton Keynes / UK
- 2007 Wordscape / for: Working towards The Hepworth / Wakefield Art Gallery / Wakefield / UK
- 2007 Textbook for: Special Collections / University Gallery Leeds / Leeds / UK
- 2006 Pollen of Words / Central Library / The Humber Mouth / Hull Literature Festival / Hull / UK
- 2005 Aire-Wave / Co-ordinates / Saltsmill / Saltaire / UK
AWARDS / RESIDENCIES
- 2019 Axisweb Artist of the Month - August 2019
- 2019 Blue Moon has been awarded first prize by Friends of Ferens, Open Exhibition, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
- 2016 Residency at RED gallery (Hull/UK) to develop and set up three site-specific pieces in response RED's spaces and situation. Link to info and images: Setting Off
- 2009 Grant of Arts Council England, Yorkshire, and ...
- 2009 Grant of Humber Mouth festival towards Fr-Agile
- 2008 Nominated for the Northern Art Prize 2008 (longlist)
- 2008 Grant of Arts Council England, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and East Riding of Yorkshire for On Spurn, a research residency for six artists (see also: OnSpurn BLOG)
- 2004 Grant of the Arts Council England towards Stringed / Crescent Arts / Scarborough / UK
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2020 Light Works / Axisweb Vacant Space / Hull / UK
Supported by a Hull City Arts Grant
images on Axisweb and Facebook - 2019 Axisweb Vacant Space Hull (interview related to this project)
- 2016 Setting Off / RED Gallery / Hull / UK
- 2015 Changing Landscapes / KunstRaumRhein / Dornach (near Basel) / CH
- 2012 temp-or-al, Artlink's 30th anniversary exhibition / Hull / UK
- 2010 Fr-Agile / South Square Gallery / Bradford / UK
- 2005 Stringed: Large scale installation / Crescent Arts / Scarborough / UK
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2022 Sounds of Water / ‘Kleiner Wasserspeicher’, beim Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg / Berlin / DE
- 2019 Dolls - Pupa / L'atelier de melusine / La Trimouille / F
featuring between the lines as part of works in response to text - 2017 & 2019 Ferens Open Exhibition / Ferens Art Gallery / Hull / UK
- 2017 Perception / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2014 Ich sehe was... / Studio event in Berlin, Wedding / DE
- 2014 Process / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2013 Wedding - Kunst Pur / Galerie Wedding / Berlin / DE
- 2013 Monomania / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2011 Artificial Light / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2008 From Book to Book / Leeds Art Gallery / Leeds / UK
- 2007 Special Collections / University Gallery Leeds / Leeds / UK
- 2007 Fundamentals / an exhibition of invited artists / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2006 Cupola 15th anniversary / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2005 Co-ordinates / Saltsmill / Saltaire / UK
- 2005 Sculptural Possibilities / Cupola Gallery / Sheffield / UK
- 2004 New Visions: The search for identity / Doncaster Museum&Art Gallery / Doncaster / UK
- 2004 Sculpture / Crescent Arts / Scarborough / UK
- 2003 [54º N] Festival of Contemporary Art (Muscle / Unfolding) / The Warehouse / Hull / UK
- 1999 Textile Kulturwochen Freiburg (Permeable Wall) / Herderbau / Freiburg / DE
- 1998 Jardins suspendus / Musée du Textile et des Costumes / Wesserling / F
COLLECTIONS
- 2007 Wordscape / The Hepworth / Wakefield / UK
- 2007 Textbook (1st ed) / Special Collections at Brotherton Library / University of Leeds / Leeds / UK
- 2007 Textbook (2nd ed) / Manchester Metropolitan University's Special Collection / Manchester / UK
- 2007 - 2017 various private collections in the UK, Germany and Sweden
