Silvina Der-Meguerditchian
born 1967 in Buenos Aires, lives and works in Berlin
http://www.silvina-der-meguerditchian.de
Languages
Spanish, German, French, English, Armenian

The Artist is a hoarder and a cartographer. Her finds – as heterogeneous as they may seem at first glance – are all signs, de-signations of the complexity of identity. The artist’s nomadic approach, frequently her microscopic scrutiny, transform details – model-like portrayals of human DNA or fragments of a city street map into idiosyncratic, inimitable landscapes and textures. She creates a cartogram which constantly suggests new ways to relate and depict the intimate relationships between collective memory and individual experience.
The images presented by Silvina Der-Merguerditchian tell stories – either through a bold synthesis of various codes and techniques or as a sober inventory in the esthetic tradition of an archive.
The artist commutes between several cultures and identities. She grew up in Argentina and lives in Berlin. But her own biography is not the only reason why she plays an intermediary role. Silvina is of Armenian descent and describes the Armenians as a bridge which links Europe and Asia geographically and moreover as a persecuted people whose self-perception as mediators and communicators gives them a desperately needed raison d’être.
Silvina pursures the knot-tying theme, the meshing of unlikely combinations by superimposing various layers and structures and combining extremely heterogeneous techniques such as marrying computer printouts with wool to create newer and newer and bolder and bolder material syntheses. Identity is a constant patchwork of collective and individual memory, a puzzle of unequal, mismatched parts. But never random, always inimitable.

Barbara Höffer

EXHIBITIONS (Selection)

2005-The art mourners, Performance/Film with laboratorio Berlin, Galería Vanguardia, ARCO 05, Madrid/ Prima Center Galerie, Berlin, Requiem for the Genocide, Museum for contemporary art, Yerewan, Armenia (G), RECONOCER, Galerie ELSI del RIO, Buenos Aires (I), ARTEBA 05- Art Fair in Buenos Aires, “6° separation”, Black Maria Gallery, L.A. (G), “Der Freie Wille”, Bunker in der Arena, Berlin (G), Urban realities: Fokus Istambul, Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin (G), “Heimat: Inbetween”, Pferdestall-Uni-Hamburg, (G), “Corrosión”, Lab. Project with Linhea Imaginaria, Uberlandia, Brasilien (G)
2004-Die Traumsammlung, Instituto Cervantes, Berlin (G), Evita: un Escudo, Senado de la Pcia.Bs.As. Argentina (G), “Ciclo” with Linhea Imaginaria, Centro Cultural Sao Paulo, SP Brasil (G), Print Triennale, InExile Center for Contemporary arts, Tallin, Estland, Paradies project, Kunstsalon, Berlin (G), Armenian linking, Prima Center Galerie, Berlin (G)
2003- Galerie Raskolnikow, Dresden (I), Salle d’expositions de la église arménien catholique, Arnouville, France (I), A.L.M.A Museum, Boston, U.S.A. (I), Presentation evening, “Getting closer” IFA Galerie, Berlin, Artist in residence program in the ACCEA (Armenian Center for contemporary experimental art) Yerewan, Armenia (I), Escape Point Project with “Imaginary Line”, Galeria Marta Traba, Memorial de America Latina, Sao Paulo (G), PARADISE, Bunker am Alexander Platz, Berlin (G)
2002- Galerie Forum, Mannheim (I) ,Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires (I), Wandergalerie, Berlin (I), Alles nur ein Traum?, Wilhelm-Fabry-Museum, Hilden, 2° Price (G) ,ARVEST, Los Angeles, (G),Salle d’expositions de la Cathédrale arménienne, Paris (I)
2001-Triennale d`art contemporaine Senart, Senne et Marne, France (G)-Centro Cultural Borges, Buenos Aires,(I)- Argentinian artist on the mirror, coop. project between the Goethe Institut/ Argentinian Embassy, Berlin, (G)
2000-Bazart, Wanderausstellung, Amsterdam, Berlin, Strasbourg, London, Barcelona(G)-Biblioteca C. Gulbenkian, Ponte de Sor, Portugal(I)-Bienal de Arte digital, Galerie Mosto&Rojas, Buenos Aires(G)-Kunstmuseum Hollfeld, Galerie Artenvielfalt(G)-Significans, NGBK, Berlin(G)
1999-Centro Cultural Borges, Buenos Aires(I)
1996/7/8-Galerie Pfefferberg, Berlin(I)-1997-Salón Pintura EDEA 97, Buenos Aires(G)-III Salón Pintura EDEA 97, Buenos Aires(G)-Willy Brandt Haus, Berlin(I)-1998-Grüner Salon, Berlin(E)

Her art is in the collection of th city Buenos Aires, the Foundation das Casas da Fronteira e Alorna, Portugal, the collection of the American Embassy in Armenia and private collections.

(I) Individual- (G)Group