Urban & natural spaces are inspiration and workplace.
My artistic practice is grounded in observing the liveliness of places, uncovering stories & histories, pattern, traces and connections. From this i create visual enviroments that bring together people of various backgrounds and more than human beings (plants, insects...). I am driven by the understanding that there is only one planet, beauty is highly political and art is the motor making utopia happen. We need it to connect and to survive.
I mainly work with and in the space my art will be presented in, my material is what I find and what I add (natural material, plants, drawing, interviews & other audio, video, photography ...).
1971: born in Tübingen
since 2018: manager of cultural neighborhood-center & humanrights NGO
2017: trainer for educational programs focused on discrimination and migration issues
2008 - 11: birth of 3 children
2006 - 08: co-fonder of temporary studio- & artspace Kunstamt Tübingen
2005: training in documentary film directing at Filmwerkstatt Münster with Horst Herz
2001: Masters Fine Arts after studying at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and the Cooper Union School of Arts and Architecture in New York City u.a with Hans Haacke, Margaret Morton, Doug Ashford (Group Material)
since 1998: involved in various forms of art education & participatory community-projects for all ages & backgrounds in the Netherlands & in Germany (documentary, photography, (video-)installation, landart, streetart)
Works and Projects (Selection)
6/2025: Natuur in de buurt – neighborhood-art-project on nature in the hood, Amsterdam
5/2025: A Fresh Start at the Diedler Site – neighborhood-art-project at former Diedler car dealership, Tübingen
2022-2023: Naturally Positioned – exhibition project in the former freight station hall in Tübingen on nature and climate, connecting artists from Indonesia, Germany & Greece & the neighborhood, Artistic direction & personal works
2021: What Nourishes Us – Planted Art in the Tübingen Puppet Theater Garden
2022-23: HipHop meets Klassik – project & documentary (60 min): Philharmonic Orchestra Baden Württemberg meets Empowerment Project TALK for discriminated youth
2020: WennfeldHaus – temporary neighborhood art space in a former social housing complex in Tübingen, connecting artists from USA, France, Iran, Greece, Germany & the neighborhood, Artistic direction & personal works
2018: Shelter – site-specific installation at Honau tuff stone cellar-biennale in collaboration with the resident and Syrian refugees
2017: Arrowheads Zinnia – planted art with Uwe Petruch at kunstraumelevenartspace, Börstingen
2011: Weaving – site-specific multimedia installation on the history of the Egeria Tübingen weaving mill, featuring cellist Fried Dähn; Crossing – Urban Observations / exhibition project at Künstlerhaus Dortmund; Dedalo – The City as Labyrinth / Palazzo della Penne, Perugia
2008: Some Children Were Born on the Stairs – video and photography project on the vacant Tübingen Gynecologian Clinic: Employees – documentary video installation in the former Tübingen District Administration Office
2007: The Cherry on Top of Everyday Administrative Life – Architectural Performance at the former Tübingen District Office; Leerraum – exhibition project on the topic of vacant properties in Tübingen with my sister Ava Smitmans
2002: Who Is Your Enemy? – documentary video about 9/11 in NYC (6 min)
2001: Four Women – documentary about the everyday experiences of women without residence permits in Amsterdam (23 min)
