Andrea Büttner on Shame, Labour, and the Art of Letting Go
In a 2010 conversation with Gil Leung for Afterall, artist Andrea Büttner shares insights into her varied artistic methods, which include video and woodcutting. She often pushes formal and conceptual limits, integrating the works of others into her practice. Büttner earned her doctorate focusing on shame and art at the Royal College of Art, London, and received the Max Mara Art Prize for Women in 2010, resulting in a solo exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery in 2011. Her latest show at Raven Row showcases new woodcuts. Büttner's art delves into themes of aesthetic value and emotion, referencing her father's drawings in 'Nestbeschmutzer' (2007) and performing 'Fallen Lassen' (2010) at Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg. She plans to explore poverty through St. Francis legends and Arte Povera in an upcoming project in Italy.
Key facts
- Andrea Büttner works across woodcutting, glass painting, clay sculpture, screen printing, video, and performance.
- She studied art history and philosophy, completing a doctorate on shame and art at the Royal College of Art, London.
- She won the 2010 Max Mara Art Prize for Women, resulting in a solo show at Whitechapel Gallery, London in 2011.
- Her exhibition at Raven Row, London, features new woodcuts.
- Büttner used her father's drawings in 'Nestbeschmutzer' (2007).
- Her performance 'Fallen Lassen' (2010) at Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart, involved following instructions to let objects fall.
- She created clay sculptures that crack, replacing her body in the gallery space.
- She curated a show of HAP Grieshaber's 'Engel der Geschichte' magazines at Hollybush Gardens, London.
- Her upcoming project in Italy explores poverty in St. Francis legends and Arte Povera.
- The interview was published on 25 May 2010 by Afterall.
Entities
Artists
- Andrea Büttner
- Gil Leung
- HAP Grieshaber
- Valie Export
- Malin Ståhl
- Dieter Roth
- St. Francis
Institutions
- Afterall
- Royal College of Art
- Max Mara Art Prize for Women
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Raven Row
- Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg
- Hollybush Gardens
- Bless
Locations
- London
- Stuttgart
- Germany
- Italy
- Berlin
Sources
- Afterall —