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Many years  after my first attempt I found the time to make another whitescreen animation. Again for my friend Judith Holofernes (the singing knight with the horse from below). It’s the music video for her third single “Nichtsnutz” (nogoodnik? goof-off?), and yes – it is good for nothing but useless distraction. A hymn on the idleness!
And so was my work: no storyboard or even a plan. Just letting myself go on a lighttable with permanent markers and see what happens while listening to Judith`s admirable lyrics.

(to watch Video click on image below)

…and here‘s the video!         (I made the costume)

Melde mich zurück von einem weiteren Ausflug ins Kostümwesen.

Für meine Freundin Judith Holofernes habe ich in den letzten Wochen ein mehrteiliges Großraumkostüm kreiert: Ein leichtes Schwert, ein schweres Pferd und eine Ritterrüstung. Alles aus textilen Fasern genäht und gestrickt versteht sich.
Für ihr Video zum brandneuen Titel “Ein Leichtes Schwert” vom brandneuen Solo-Album ist sie damit letzte Woche quer durch Berlin galoppiert. Big Fun! Sobald das Video draußen ist, gibts links und “echte” Bilder.

Prettyspontaneously my dear friend Moki and I set up a little show here in Berlin:
As part of the Pictoplasma Festival of Character Design and Art, more precisely during it’s Character Walk, Moki and I give a quick insight on our recent work.
Both of us are currently working on stories that are about expeditions into the otherness.
Moki presents a brandnew ‘wimmelbild’ and her graphic novel ‘Wandering Ghost’. I show some samples from the forthcoming book ‘Einer Und Die Anderen’ that I am working on together with Judith Holofernes.

You can find it all at archive books, Dieffenbachstr. 31, 10967 Berlin (Graefekiez).
The exhibition will be free and open from Wednesday April 10 to Sunday April 14, from 12 to 20h.

As the place is rather tiny we will not have a grand opening, but on Wendnesday between 19 and 21h we will definitely be there and happy to say hello to you!

Moki: from ‘Wandering Ghost’

The Association of Illustrators, based in London, launched it’s newest publication of Varoom. Check it out!

Those of you who are in Berlin and want to know what the finished version of the attached piece looks like and/or those who want to take their kids to an art show appealing to kids I’d like to invite to come to the Amerikahaus am Bahnhof Zoo and check out the group show ‘Imaginäre Reisen’.

On 500m2 a large group of international artists are showing their work during the next 6 weeks – not exclusively but compatibly for children.
The opening is on Saturday, November 3 from 02 pm – 05 pm.

Artists: Dominik Lejman (PL), Ellen Harvey (UK), Wolfgang Karl May (DE), Max Frey (AT), Egill Saebjornsson (IS), Ethan Hayes-Chute (US), Kirstine Roepstorff (DK), Michael Johansson (SE), Nina Braun (DE), Katharina Lackner (AT), Rebecca Raue (DE), Konrad Mühe (DE), Olafur Eliasson (DK), Stefan Saffer (DE), Andy Graydon (US), Thilo Frank (DE), Sophie Erlund (DK), Franz Hoefner und Harry Sachs (DE), Sebastian Hempel (DE), Hollie Chastain (US), Guy Ben-Ner (IL), Eduardo Basualdo (AR), Gaby Taplick (DE), Dustin Schenk (DE), David Krippendorff (DE)

More info here.

..or watch this awesome little trailer!

photographed by Clara Bahlsen

july 2012:
uuups

Sorry. It’s been a while..! Season’s greatings. Tss.
In the meantime I joined another pictoplasma show here in berlin, was published in their new book, sew a giant thought bubble for a job, did welcome several groups of students in my studio, took care of growing teeth an wounded knees, and started working hard and with great pleasure on a new project, which is a book. This much I can reveal.

With my brandnew calculator I will keep you posted!  Cheers, Nina

december 2011:
season’s greetings

With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
Nina

“Lés Creatures Ont Leur Festival!

The Berlin based Pictoplasma project is acclaimed for its unique focus on contemporary character design and figurative art. The annual festivals in Berlin and NYC have evolved to be the meeting points for an international audience of illustrators, graphic designers, animation filmmakers as well as producers and fine and urban artists. Now, the world’s leading Festival of contemporary character culture celebrates its premiere in Paris!
From December 7 to 31 la Gaite lyrique presents a comprehensive program with installations, exhibition, artist conferences, performances,
screenings  and loads of Character!”

I will show some of my work in the group exhibition Post Digital Monsters alongside pieces created by Shoboshobo (FRA), AJ Fosik (USA), Allison Schulnik (USA), Ben & Julia (FRA – SUI), FriendsWithYou (USA), Hyein Lee (KOR), Jeremy Dower (USA), Jordan Metcalf (ZAF), Joshua Ben Longo (USA), Juan Pablo Cambariere (ARG), MyMO (GER), Nick Cave (USA), Nick Sheehy (AUS), Overture (USA), Raymond Lemstra (NED), Rina Donnersmarck (GBR), Roman Klonek (POL), Sarah Illenberger (GER), Steve Alexander (GER).

7 – 31 DECEMBER 2011
LA GAITE LYRIQUE
3 bis rue Papin
75003 Paris

picture by Motomichi

july 2011:
maternity leave pt. two

Deliriously happy I am to tell you, that our second child arrived safe and sound!
I’ll get back to work sometime later…                            Love, Nina

june 2011:
new artwork online

My new works from the show “Lovers Rock” are now online.

Many thanks to Clara Bahlsen (photographed the Rock) and heliumcowboy artspace (shot all the others)!

The Hipster

I am very happy to announce my new solo show “Lovers Rock”. You are warmly invited to join me for the opening on Saturday, May 28 at the heliumcowboy artspace in Hamburg.
If you don’t happen to be in town but are interested nonetheless, you can see my new works on the gallery’s website from the opening day on.

december 2010:
Happy Holidays!

The wish is old, the wish is true: A merry Christmas, my friends, to you!
And all the best in the New Year.
Nina

Frrriends frrom France: find a elaborate review about my work in Étapes magazine issue 182!
Étapes – design et culture visuelle

Heliumcowboy artspace will show up at PREVIEW BERLIN, held at Tempelhof airport October 8 – 10.

At booth # 42 some of my work can be seen alongside works of Victor Castillo, Jeremy Fish, Alex Diamond, Jo Fischer and Boris Hoppek.

A new surface for my site… Thanks to my friend Marton di Katz from Zurich for his help!

I am in another book:

“An encyclopedia of street culture for those who love Banksy or Irvine Welsh and want to know about the cutting-edge talents, past and present who have shaped urban cool.

This eye-catching insider’s guide includes oldschool graffiti legends, avant-garde street artists, film makers, DJs, designers, writers, and poets who have influenced urban culture. From the groundbreaking New York artists of the 1980s to the unique work of modern-day Iranians, this book shows how street culture has penetrated every aspect of modern life. Street Knowledge includes work and exclusive interviews from some of the world’s most famous artists and talents, such as Banksy, David LaChapelle, Kelsey Brookes, Quik, Tony Kaye, Tama Janowitz, The KLF, Shawn Stussy, Obey, Irvine Welsh, Martha Cooper, and Benjamin Zephaniah, as well as lesser- known and up-coming talents who are literally coming up from the streets.”

written by King Adz, published by Overlook
320 pages, hardcover 23,5 x 19,6 x 2,8 cm, language: english

ISBN-10: 1590204778, ISBN-13: 978-1590204771

A heliumcowboy artspace showcase in cooperation with Galerie Lichtpunkt Ambacher Contemporary, Munich.

Features Alex Diamond, Boris Hoppek and me.

Sep 11 – Oct 8, 2010
opening: Fri, Sep 10, 7 pm

location: Galerie Lichtpunkt Ambacher Contemporary
Lothstrasse 78a, 80797 München
opening hours: tue – fri, 1 – 6 p.m. and by appointment

“Most of the works shown at “Mountain To Surf” have never been exhibited in Hamburg before. These works have been presented at fairs and exhibitions in Basel (Mountains), New York (somewhere in between = To), Barcelona/Miami (Surf) … you get the idea.” (heliumcowboy artspace)

Jon Burgerman, Victor Castillo, Alex Diamond, Boris Hoppek, Jeremy Fish, Casey McKee and me.

Sep 3 – Sep 17, 2010
opening: Fri, Sep 3, 5 – 9 pm

location: heliumcowboy artspace
Bäckerbreitergang 75 (new!), 20355 Hamburg
opening hours: tuesdays – fridays 12 – 7 pm and by appointment

september 2010:
Illustration Play 2

“Totally unique collection of works that focuses on a return to experimental and individual techniques, such as paper cutting, stitching, knitting, needlework, origami, patchwork, and more.
From pure and simple to hugely complex these artworks offer enormous diversity both in the skills brought to each project and the originality evident in each piece.” (Gingko Press)
Alongside the detailed presentation of 23 colleagues’ work a wide variety of my art can also be seen in this very nice book.

First published and edited by viction:ary / Gingko Press
248 pages, Paperback
300 color illustrations, English ISBN: 978-988-17328-6-6

I share my studio’s backyard with a kindergarten. My friends Anneli Schütz, Jette Ahrens and I got to the idea to beautify this rather gray place together with the garten’s children. Sponsored by the Berlin senate’s culture fund we gave an art class and built sculptures of concrete, a big wooden playhouse and much more.

My first speech ever I will hold on Pictoplasma Conference, April Saturday 10th, 2:30 pm, at Babylon cinema Berlin-Mitte.

I was invited to tell about my work and bioraphy. In English..

“Over the course of 2 days, an international line-up of established and up-coming artists, directors, animators and designers will present their character-centric work in concentrated lectures and talks. Attendees have the chance to learn more about the inspiration, production process and personal approach of some of today’s most outstanding creators.”

For those who know a little German: Reporter and old friend Anja Backhaus visited me in my studio for an interview. The nice little film can be seen on tv channel einsfestival in her show einsweiter or here.

I am very happy to announce the birth of a beautiful baby girl!

Right now I take a little break to enjoy ourselves. I’ll be back in April to present my work at Pictoplasma conference.

Years after I sewed the toast costume for my friends Cleptomanicx, I made another one: the lemon. Again the mascot’s original character was created by Stefan Marx. Last thing I’ve heard was they ran away and are now hitch-hiking through southern Europe.

Some of my latest works can be seen at the Volta show in Basel.

Watch out for the heliumcowboy artspace booth.

Monday, June 8th – Saturday 13th, 2009
Markthalle / Viaduktstrasse 10, 4054 Basel, Switzerland

Previews: Monday June 8th 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
General opening: Monday June 8th 6 p.m. -  8 p.m.
Daily: June 9th – June 13th, 12 – 8 p.m.

Together with heliumcowboy artspace I will leave the cold winter behind and travel to sunny Florida to set up the Tumulus one more time. I also show some new pieces alongside works by Antonio Santin, Boris Hoppek, Jon Burgerman, Arturo Sandoval III and Alex Diamond.

This mandala I just finished and it’s already on the way:

The Darkest Night (155 x 155 x 10 cm)

october 2008:
Missy Magazine – was jede Frau wissen muss

Endlich ein normales Frauenmagazin! Ab jetzt und dann hoffentlich für immer!
Dies ist eine wärmste Empfehlung..

Missy Magazine – ab dem 20. Oktober am Kiosk

In der ersten Ausgabe: “Das Monster bin jetzt ich” Anja Plaschg aka Soap&Skin gilt als neues Wunderkind des Österreichischen Pop. Mit uns sprach sie über ihre Jugend auf dem Land, ihre Arbeitsweise und die Gründe, warum man auf alle Erwartungen pfeifen sollte +++ Im Auge der Betrachterin – Die deutsche Fotografin Birgit Wudtke porträtiert Künstlerinnen in ungewöhnlichen Posen. Eine Werkschau +++ Schlau angezogen – Diese Frauen wissen Bescheid über Computer, Musik und Wissenschaft und sehen dabei irgendwie super aus. Die besten Streberinnen-Outfits für diesen Herbst +++ Drei von vier – In Burkina Faso werden immer noch jährlich Tausende Mädchen verstümmelt. Lokale Frauenorganisationen kämpfen mit Aufklärung gegen die Praxis und haben damit erste Erfolge +++ Außerdem: Yo Majesty – Zwei Rapperinnen gegen das HipHop-Patriarchat +++ Kamasutra-Test – Mit Gymnastik zum Gipfel? +++ Beauty Tipp – Wie klebe ich mir einen Bart? +++ Reise-Führerin Wien – DJ Electric Indigo erzählt, wo man in ihrer Heimatstadt am besten knutschen kann +++ Knit your own Streetart – Die Künstlerin Nina Braun über ihre selbst gestrickten Skulpturen +++ Nayla Tueni – Eine junge libanesische Journalistin erbt den liberalsten Zeitungsverlag der arabischen Welt +++ Zelda Fitzgerald – war das It-Girl der Zwanziger. Was wäre heute aus ihr geworden? +++ Plus: Musik, Film, Kunst, Politik, DIY und mehr…

july 2008:
5 Jahre heliumcowboy artspace – group exhibition

See my first attempt at making a cartoon…

As you can see everybody was very happy Saturday night at heliumcowboy artspace.
The images of my new artwork, some exhibition views, the making of and setting up and some impressions of the opening party are online now!

Before turning my back on Hamburg, I will display my current works in my third solo show at heliumcowboy artspace.
This time I’ve worked exclusively with textiles. I’ve knitted and sewed an installation, pictures and sculptures.
The opening will be on Saturday, May 24, at 8 pm. JLu plays laid-back Indie Hop, Electronic and campfire music.

You are warmly invited! Nina

heliumcowboy artspace, Sternstr. 4, 20357 Hamburg, Germany
Stick And Move – Needleworkout by Nina Braun – 24.5. – 4.7.2008
opening hours: wednesday – friday 11am – 7pm.

For more informations..

The helping hounds of hell show up in Hamburg!

The Berlin show two weeks ago was a big success and that will hopefully be continued at the heliumcowboy artspace tomorrow night: come to the opening party  at 8 p.m. and see unique artworks on 100 skateboards!

Buy! All benefit goes to the SAGE hospital for children in Senegal.

As an exception here is a little advertising concerning someone else: my boyfriend, one of my best friends and two other nice guys who do a good job playing their instruments, release a record today: Sing What You Know is the name of their second album, Home Of The Lame is the name of the band.
I am not very good at describing music with words, but Walter Schreifels says, that Schopenhauer says “Only he who takes what he writes directly out of his own head is worth reading”, and Sing What You Know spells out and illustrates the point. Ja genau. Aside from that this is a solid piece of pop-music that dares to rock. I really like it and if you want to check it out click here (myspace) or here (regular website).

Home Of The Lame:  Sing What You Know, Grand Hotel van Cleef,  2008

“The helping hounds of hell” is a charity project initiated in summer 2007 by twilite skateboards in association with GDBG for the Sage hospital in Senegal / West Africa.
100 boards will be painted (Well – maybe not all of them, as you can see below I knitted again!) by more than 30 international artists.
These boards can be seen & of course bought from the 25.01.2008 – 03.02.2008 at Neurotitan gallery in Berlin and from 08.02.2008 – 12.02.2008 at heliumcowboy artspace in Hamburg.
All people participating in this project work without commercial aims. All benefit will be donated to the SAGE HOSPITAL e.V. .

Enjoy your holidays, recreate and then: a mind-blowing 2008! Jehaw.
Nina

Dear friends at the US east coast: gallery heliumcowboy artspace travelled all the way to show you the art of Boris Hoppek, Neasden Control Centre, Alex Diamond, Antonio Santin, Casey McKee and me.
Come over and take a look at the SCOPE Miami, December 5 – 9 2007.

Roberto Clemente Park, 101 NW 34th Street, Wynwood Art District, Miami

Vom 7. bis 9. Dezember gibt es wieder das liebenswerte Hamburger Comicfestival rund um das Haus 73. Im Rahmenprogramm machen Moki, Haina, Patrick Farsar, Nils Knott, Pauli und ich eine kleine Ausstellung mit dem Namen ‘Toy Store’ im Hinterconti in der Marktstraße. Gezeigt werden dort dann zur Abwechslung ausschließlich dreidimensionale Figuren. Kommt gerne auf ein Getränk zur Eröffnung am Freitag ab 20 Uhr oder seht Euch die Ausstellung in Ruhe am Samstag oder Sonntag von 12 bis 18 Uhr an.

Galerie Hinterconti, Marktstraße 40, 20357 Hamburg – Karoviertel
Kulturhaus 73, Schulterblatt 73, 20357 Hamburg – Schanzenviertel

The ‘bad mood cloud’ I did last year, supported by my friend Anneli Schuetz, can now be seen in a very interesting new book, released by ‘Die Gestalten Verlag’: “Furnish presents domestic territories that expand upon our current understanding of interior design. The book documents recent work by designers, artists and architects that shows how they are using furniture in pioneering ways: as environment, as art object, as digital-organic growth, as mutation or as insertion.”

Heliumcowboy artspace was on tour again and took some of my stuff (amongst others’, namely Neasden Control Center, Friends With You, Moki, Boris Hoppek, Alex Diamond and Patrick Farzar) to show it at the SCOPE art fair in New York.

As Jörg (Mr. Helium) mailed me today it was a complete success and my knitted sneakers where probably the topmost mugged exhibit on the whole fair. So now I know why I get so many friendly mails these days from people who checked out my site and pay me nice compliments! Thanks.

december 2006:
Learning to fly.

After more than 2 months in the coal mines I am back on track. And ready for take-off again – going to Cologne to see the film ‘Fliegen lernen’ by Kim Koch which receives it’s premier at the ‘XXX-Pilotin’ filmfestival at Museum Ludwig.
It’s a 60 minutes documentary about 3 women in the german / swiss skateboarding szene. I am one of them. I was accompanied by the team around the marvellous Kim Koch over a longer period in my life, including many changes: From my time as a ‘business woman’ via the decision to quit this career and dare to be a full-time artist. Quite a personal document.. Same for the other two protagonists, Rodi Münzel and Esther Vonplon, both skaters with all their heart. If you are interested and close-by – come along! You might not make me out because I wear a beard or so, but I’ll be there.

Fliegen lernen. Tuesday, 12.12.06 at 8.30 pm – the entry is free
Filmforum NRW im Museum Ludwig, Bischofsgartenstr. 1, Cologne.

september 2006:
friends with you bootleg show

Upcoming weekend part 1 of the festivities on the occasion of Cleptomanicx’ 15th birthday will take place:

A skate contest like you’ve never seen before! Stefan Marx‘ daffy characters and odd worlds will be turned into skatepark full of gay obstacles and wonderland-like creatures. (On the picture below you see the trophies I made for this event. See also the toast costume at > work > misc!)
If you are close-by come to the skating rink at ‘Planten un Blomen’ here in Hamburg on saturday and sunday!
Saturday nite my friend Eazy Iron and his blockparty association will knock down the ‘Baltic Raw Tower’ on the left bank.

Be there! For more information check in here: