About

*1981, lives and works in Berlin

Contextualisation of absence and the examination of history and her own personal and familiar background are central issues in Dana Engfers art practice. In each work she incorporate a wide variety of media such as drawing, collage, photography and video. With her artworks she wants to invent mysterious, fragmentary visual worlds. Engfer sees herself as a collector of different traces of time, memories and abeyance, representing the atmosphere and story of specifc environments by combining memory and fiction with documentary.

Education

  • 2007 Master-class student with Prof. Henning Kürschner, University of the Arts Berlin
  • 2005-2006 Studies Fine Arts with Prof. Christian Boltanski, École des Beaux-Arts Paris
  • 2003 Studies Fine Arts at Iceland University of the Arts Reykjavik Iceland
  • 2001-2007 Studies Fine Arts with Prof. Henning Kürschner, University of the Arts Berlin

Awards, Grants and Residencies

  • 2024 Artist-in-Residence, SÍM Residency Korpúlfsstaðir, Reykajvik Iceland
  • 2023 Research Grant, Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion
  • 2022 NEUSTART KULTUR-Stipendium 2022, Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
  • 2020 Artist-in-Residence, Lichtenberg Studios, Berlin
  • 2019 Artist-in-Residence, Mecklenburgisches Künstlerhaus Schloss Plüschow
  • 2016 Haus am Kleistpark Berlin, Art Award, Nomination
  • 2014 Travel Grant, German Consulate General Ekaterinburg, Russia
  • 2012 IBB-Preis für Photographie, Investitionsbank Berlin
  • 2011 Marti-Clerici Stiftung Artist-in-Residence, Montevettolini, Italy
  • 2010-2012 Studio Grant Karl Hofer Gesellschaft Berlin
  • 2009 European Art Project/Artist-in-Residence, Galerie BMB Amsterdam
  • 2005-2006 Grant from the German-French Youth Offce at the École des Beaux-Arts Paris
  • 2003 Erasmus Scholarship, Iceland University of the Arts Reykjavik, Iceland

Solo/Duo Exhibitions

  • 2023 Schneckenhaus-Sammlung und Wale, Städtische Galerie Alte Lederfabrik, Halle (Westf.)
  • 2022 TO THE SEA, FROM THE SEA, with Yuki Jungesblut, sign, CIAT Contemporary Institute for Art & Thought, Berlin
  • 2022 Magnetic Field, with Moritz Otto, Galerie Tor6 Theaterhaus, Bielefeld
  • 2018 INSELN, with Max Sudhues, Kunstverein Neukölln, Berlin
  • 2014 Behind falling leaves, Sverdlovsk Regional Local Lore Museum, Ekaterinburg (RU)
  • 2014 Wenn die Nachtigall weint, sind alle Katzen pink, Azad´s Kiosk, Köln
  • 2012 Schöne Aussichten in der Bank, with Anita Regli, IBB-Preis für Photographie, Investitionsbank Berlin (K)
  • 2011 Wanted Dana Muckova, Showroom for Young Art Galerie Hrobsky Wien (AT)
  • 2011 Wiese und Zelt, Frantoio, Montevettolini (IT)
  • 2009 Engfer, Ferstl, with Daniel Ferstl, Galerie BMB Amsterdam (NL)
  • 2008 European Art Project, with Fabian Patzak, Chelsea Galerie/H95 Basel (CH) (K)

Group Exhibitions (selection)

  • 2024 EVERYONE BUT CASPAR!, Kunsthalle Niendorf, Künstlerhaus Sootbörn, Hamburg
  • 2023 X, ZF Projektraum, Berlin
  • 2023 Release-Exhibition rûm ISSUE °VI, OAG-Kulturverein, Graz (AT)
  • 2023 Kunstfestival Begehungen, et cetera pp, Palais Lichtenstein/Sa.
  • 2023 ALLES V, studio im HOCHHAUS, Berlin
  • 2023 Wie die Linien einer Hand, geschrieben in die Straßenränder, Villa Heike, Berlin
  • 2023 Imposed Traces, Green Hill Gallery, Berlin
  • 2023 CIRCLES, EMOP – European Month of Photography, curated by Thomas Elsen, Salon am Moritzplatz, Berlin
  • 2022 nowhere / nirgendwo – on persons and landscapes / über Personen und Landschaften, curated by Gunnar Borbe, Edvard-Munch-Haus, Warnemünde
  • 2022 15 Jahre IBB-Preis für Photographie, Kommunale Galerie, Berlin
  • 2022 ALLES IV, studio im HOCHHAUS, Berlin
  • 2022 Silent Spring, curated by Lena Fließbach, Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin
  • 2021 Weissheiten, Galerie Tor6 Theaterhaus, Bielefeld
  • 2021 Suturo, Los Angeles / Berlin, Online Exhibition
  • 2021 LEBENSSINN, curated by maecenarte, erstererster Galerie, Berlin
  • 2021 WECHSELRAUM, initiated by Ulrike Mohr, Ehemalige Gießerei, Chemnitz
  • 2021 FotoFlaneure, AFF Galerie, Berlin
  • 2021 Kunstlandschaft 10, BEDARFSHALTESTELLE, Kulturhaus Mestlin, Mestlin
  • 2021 Der temporäre Rand – Stipendiatinnen und Stipendiaten der Jahre 2019 und 2020, Mecklenburgisches Künstlerhaus Schloss Plüschow, Upahl
  • 2021 BISCUIT, pilote contemporary, p145, Berlin
  • 2020 5. Roter Kunstsalon, pilote contemporary, Museum Villa Rot, Burgrieden
  • 2020 WECHSELRAUM part of “Raum für Netzwerke und Solidarität”, initiated by Ulrike Mohr, curated by Sarie Nijboer and Vincent Schier, Haus der Statistik, Berlin
  • 2020 Present, Perfect, Continuous, Mecklenburgisches Künstlerhaus Schloss Plüschow
  • 2020 pilote : Unter Linden, SubTei, Berlin
  • 2020 BOOM! Stories, Kunstverein Neukölln, Berlin
  • 2020 VIRAL EMPATH, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin
  • 2020 ALLES III, studio im HOCHHAUS, Berlin
  • 2019 L’ Artiste Et Les Commissaires – Not So A White Cube #16, curated by Pierre Granoux, Lage Egal, Berlin
  • 2019 I can´t recall the melody, but it was beautiful, curated by Vu Hoang, Transmitter, Berlin
  • 2019 Domino 2, Salve Berlin
  • 2019 INS: International Neurotic Society, with Max Sudhues, SIN Berlin
  • 2019 to put on paper, curated by Katja Pudor, Errant Sound Projektraum, Berlin
  • 2019 artspring dezentral, Zeiss-Großplanetarium, Berlin
  • 2019 ALLES II, studio im HOCHHAUS, Berlin
  • 2018 The center of minimum distance, Screening, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin
  • 2018 Meet your critics, FAQ, Bremen
  • 2018 Receiver, Transmitter, Berlin
  • 2018 ALLES!, studio im HOCHHAUS, Berlin
  • 2017 Other narrations, curated by Caroline Bayer, Bolnissi (GE)
  • 2017 All is fine now yes but I miss you a lot, curated by Antoanetta Marinov, das Atelier, Berlin
  • 2016 The making of the unrealized, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin
  • 2016 Sanctuary for a flannelette, Old Hawdon St cemetery Melbourne (AU)
  • 2016 Collective, Kunstpreis des Haus am Kleistpark, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin
  • 2014 European Art Project, Chelsea Galerie (CH)
  • 2013 (das)Gift, Cultural Transit Foundation, Ekaterinburg (RU)
  • 2013 13 Etage, with Andreas Märker, das Gift/Giftraum, Berlin (duo)
  • 2013 What never happened, National Center for Contemporary Arts Ekaterinburg (RU)
  • 2013 Being lucky feels so lonely, with Clara Bahlsen, Moritz Frei, Hanno Stecher, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin
  • 2012 Künstlerische Buchprojekte, with Clara Bahlsen, UdK Bibliothek, Berlin (duo)
  • 2012 Vice Versa, Kommunale Galerie Berlin
  • 2011 Ich bin ein Berliner, Dezer Schauhalle Miami (US)
  • 2011 Junge Positionen-sag´s durch die Blume, Galerie Hrobsky Wien (AT)
  • 2011 Penultimate, Schalter Berlin
  • 2011 Zeichnung Wien II, Galerie Hrobsky Wien (AT) (K)
  • 2010 Tales of ordinary madness, with Georgina Criddle, Isa Hochstein, Judith Karcheter, Lasso Textbüro, Berlin
  • 2010 Wahlverwandt, curated by Carola Conradt, Projektraum The Wedding of The King, Berlin
  • 2010 Garden//Art//Action, curated by Georgina Criddle, Stirling Gardens Perth (AU) (K)

Publications

  • 2023 “rûm ISSUE °VI”, rûm Magazin
  • 2023 “Fenster und Falter”, Schnecken Publishing, Berlin
  • 2023 “et cetera pp”, Kunstfestival Begehungen, Palais Lichtenstein/Sa., Exhibition catalogue
  • 2022 “15 Jahre IBB-Preis für Photographie”, Kommunale Galerie, Berlin, Exhibition catalogue
  • 2021 “Der temporäre Rand – Stipendiatinnen und Stipendiaten der Jahre 2019 und 2020”, Exhibition catalogue, Mecklenburgisches Künstlerhaus Schloss Plüschow
  • 2021 “Heftschnecke”, Schnecken Publishing, Berlin
  • 2020 “Paris Benutzerausweis”, VERLAK, Berlin
  • 2020 “Lichtenberg Studios III/2020”, Uwe Jonas Lichtenberg Studios Berlin
  • 2012 “Wiese und Zelt”, IBB-Preis für Photographie 2012, Investitionsbank Berlin
  • 2011 “Zeichnung Wien”, Exhibition catalogue, Galerie Hrobsky Vienna, Austria
  • 2010 “Garden//Art//Action, Exhibition catalogue, Stirling Gardens Perth, Western Australia
  • 2008 “Dana Engfer, Fabian Patzak”, European Art Project, Exhibition catalogue, Chelsea Galerie, Switzerland