Profile
 
Monika Auch moved from her native Germany to Amsterdam where she studied and practised medicine before studying art and textiles at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy.
Since 2001 she is working as a visual artist.
 
The fibre sculptures, books and wall hangings visualize the tension between visual and tactile experience, i.e. look and touch.
The work is informed by Auch's medical background, for example embryologic growth processes and a knack of understanding humans and their environment.
 
Auch's method of making is based on dexterity and a well developed, sensitive use of materials - ranging from high tech fibre to archaic horsehair to surgical tubes.
In a playful experimental approach she fuses contemporary CAD/CAM tools and slow traditional techniques like weaving or silkscreenprinting. The artistic research project 'the intelligence of the hand' continues in 'the biography of my hands'.
 
Auch has exhibited widely in international shows and received several grants. Her artists' book won an international award.
 
Since the switch from medicine to art Auch has been involved in Dutch artists' and designers organizations, holding board and advisory functions.
 
She is editor for crafts, design and textile issues of kM journal, a Dutch quarterly about artists' materials and techniques.
In 2009 she edited the book ' Mapping Dutch Conceptual Crafts', commissioned by the Dutch Association of Designers. (BNO)
Auch is a guest lecturer at the Sandberg Institute and leads workshops in Holland and abroad.		 
   
   
 
Years and facts

born in Germany, move to Amsterdam in 1975
 
Study of Medicine, University of Amsterdam practising as medical doctor until 2001
 
Study of Art, Gerrit Rietveld Academy/Amsterdam 1996 - 2000 		 
   
   
 
2011

Amsterdam/project Steinbeisser at Lloyd Hotel - cultural embassy
www.steinbeisser.org
 
Kaunas/Lithuania/16th ETN conference and 11th Kauno Tekstil Bienale
presentation of AGA project 'Boundless' at networking event
www.etn-net.org

Dusseldorf/Germany/jury member of Staatspreis HWK, NRW

Assen/NL/Department for Philosophy and Art/
exhibition 'investigations' and symposium on artistic research in a PhD setting, lecture about hybridity in art and science
www.defka.nl
 
Haarlem/NL/Nieuwe Vide Artspace/an exhibition and discussions about the relation between medicine and art/ 'Lives saved thanks to the Arts' curated by Moritz Ebinger
lecture about 'the intelligence of my hands'
www.nieuwevide.nl
 
Amsterdam/solo show in Museum of Anatomy and Embryology opening at symposium for obstetricians/'het begint in de baarmoeder'
presentation about work and embryology during medical conference
www.moeder-om-kind.nl

appointed member of board of AGA/Amsterdams Grafisch Atelier
www.amsterdamsgrafischatelier.nl
 
 
   
 
2010
 
Riga/Latvia/4th Riga International Textile and Fiber Arts Triennial/showing sculptures 'Mutants'
www.dlmm.lv
 
Leiden/NL/2010 Textiel Festival/Pieterskerk
selected professional artists in show 'crossing borders'
www.kunstfactor.nl
 
Muiden/NL/exhibition of local artists' group in municipal hall
 
Amsterdam/Sandberg Institute/ examiner of M.A. graduates in Applied Arts
www.sandberg.nl
 
Dublin/Ireland/ exhibition Irish guild of weavers in Dalkey Castle
 
Amsterdam/Sandberg Institute/guest lecture for master students of Applied Arts course
 
Amsterdam/appointed editor of kM journal for crafts, design and textile issues
www.tijdschrift-km.eu
 
Munich/Germany/international show
'Masters of Modern'- 'Meister der Moderne'
www.ihm.de
 
Mons/Belgium/ selected international show
WCC - European Prize for Applied Arts
www.wcc-bf.org		 
 
2009
 
Amsterdam/ editor of publication 'Mapping Dutch Conceptual Crafts/Vrije Vormgeving in Nederland in kaart brengen'
www.bno.nl/crafted
 
Amsterdam/ international symposium 'Crafted', book launch and networking event
presentation of film 'Weaving Proxyclones'
 
Rijswijk/ first edition of 'Rijswijk Textiel Biennial', 16 selected Dutch fine artists working with fibres.
presenting: fibre sculptures 'Proxyclones' and video 'Weaving Proxyclones'
www.rijswijk.nl
 
Muiden/open studio/ presenting: 'Wunderkammer', in collaboration with Svea Gustavs.
The universe of two artists presented in objects, prints and books
www.kunstinmuiden.nl
 
Amsterdam/ appointed member General Board of BNO
 
Bochum/Germany, member of jury of 'Designkiosk', European cultural project RUHR 2010
www.designkiosk-ruhr.de		 
 
2008
 
Leipzig/Germany panels 'colourproofs' at Leipziger Buchmesse
www.weiw.org
 
Tampa/Florida selected exhibition (group) at Selby Gallery, American Convergence
 
Aachen/Germany keynote speaker at European conference, Handwerkskammer, Gut Rosenberg
publication of several articles and catalogue texts (go to: writings)		 
   
 
2007
 
State grant by The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture (Fonds BKVB)
 
Dublin/Ireland lecture and workshop 'High tech textiles from the Lowlands' CCoI, Feltmakers of Ireland
Lisbon/Portugal Beyond material (group), gallery Reversos dos Bernardas
Munich/Germany PRESENT (group) at Haus der Kunst, presenting wall panels 'Visual-impact-slow'
Kaunas/Lithuania installation Proxyclones at 'Wide examination', International Textile Biennial 07 lecture about: art and science - 'Embryology and weaving'
www.bienale.lt
supported by Mondriaan Foundation		 
 
 
2006
 
Maine/USA experimental fiber workshop Warren Seelig Scholarship Foundation for Arts and Culture
 
Amsterdam Fleshing out symposium about biotechnological textiles
Rotterdam Sieradieen Kunsthal (group)
Delft Beyond material gallery Lous Martin (group)
Dordrecht/NL textile 5 gallery INTERMEZZO (group)
 
 
Amsterdam/Stralsund/Germany publication of artist's book 'hinter..achter..behind', WEIW publisher with support by Materiaalfonds

 
Vienna/Austria artists' book is incorporated in the collection of Museum of Applied Arts
Barcelona/Spain artist's book wins bronze medal CMYK Award

 
member of jury Dutch Design Prize (Nederlandse Design Prijzen)		 
 
2005
 
Tilburg/NL masterclass Yoshiki Hishinuma, Dutch Textile Museum
Scholarship Foundation for Arts and Culture
 
 
Rotterdam/NL Sieradie'n (group), Erasmus University, showing embryologic objects
Amsterdam/NL Present (group) RAI woonbeurs, presenting collection 'scarves for men'
Dordrecht/NL Love check gallery INTERMEZZO
 
 
various commissions for lectures and workshops		 
   
 
2004
 
Maine/USA fiber workshop Randall Darwall
Scholarship Foundation for Arts and Culture
 
 
Muiderberg/NL All Woven exhibition in own studio
Assen/NL installation Timewarp at Department of Philosophy and Art (DeFKA)
Amsterdam installation Embryologic objects
gallery 408
 
 
Member of board of advisors BNO
publication of articles (see: writings)		 
  
 
2003
 
Assen/NL manifestation Maelstroom, Department of Philosophy and Art (DeFKA) showing installation 'attic work- braided' (zolderwerk, ge-vlochten')
Amsterdam The biggest visual power show Paradiso, showing photographs of pigs'slaughter house
Amsterdam COW NOW at butcher Korrel (group), showing objects 'Cows can fly'
 
 
Copenhagen/DK meeting of 'World Craft Council'
board member of platform BNO/Free Designers		 
   
 
2002
 
Ravenstein/NL workshop conceptual jewellery with Ruudt Peters professor of jewellery design GRA
 
 
Muenster/Germany Blickpunkte, sales exhibition of 3D scarves 'Rasta Fasta'
Utrecht/NL textile symposium, showing work with smart materials, Central Museum Utrecht
 
 
Acting chairperson Association Free Designers
Founding and coordination of textile group FILTZ Vibes and workshops 'textile surface design techniques'		 
   
 
2001
 
start of own studio
 
Naarden/NL international show Memories Commenius Museum		 
  
 
2000
 
Graduation, B.A. in textile design and autonomous graphic work on the theme of 'Romanticism'.
Collection of hand woven lace and CAD/CAM woven 3D cloth, produced in the Dutch Textile Museum, Tilburg.
Series of screen prints 'Romantisches Heidelberg' on paper.
Thesis on 'Relation between Art and Science', three case studies of medical doctors/artists, i.e. Anton Tjechov, Wolfgang Laib and Peter Collingwood.		 
  
 
1999
 
working period with Helly Oestreicher, visual artist
 
member of board of Association of Free designers		 
  
 
1998
 
transition to Textiles department and Graphic workshop		 
   
 
1996
 

study of Autonomous Art Gerrit Rietveld Academy		 
   
   
 
1993
 
Haderslev/DK workshop computeraided weaving with D. Cameron/Canada		 
   
   
 
1989 and 1990
 
working periods with Margot Rolf, fibre artist and former professor of weaving at Gerrit Rietveld Academy