SONJA
YAKOVLEVA
About
Sonja Yakovleva was born in Potsdam, (DE), in 1989. Lives and works in Frankfurt am Main, (DE).
With the papercut, Sonja Yakovleva uses a medium with feminine and folkloristic connotations and the proximity to the still frowned upon domestic craft and charges it with erotic, perverse and violent fantasies. As with Kara Walker, for example, who uses papercut to delve into the history of slavery, racism, and sexual exploitation, it is about a libertarian, feminist approach, about self- empowerment. But Yakovleva’s sexualized works are more ironic, imaginary. Subversive and occasionally pornographic, they depict a utopian form of female dominance that radically overturns stereotypes of gender and class that are also widespread in the art world.
Education
Athens School of Fine Arts, Athens, (GR)
Bachelor of Arts, Hochschule für Gestaltung, Offenbach am Main, (DE)
Awards and Residencies
2022 Stipendium Künstlerhilfe
2020 Neustart Kultur, Projektstipendium für KVTV Television, Stiftung Kunstfonds
2020 Arbeitsstipendium Stiftung Kunstfonds
Hessen innovativ neu Eröffnen, Hessische Kulturstiftung
2019 MMCA Residency Goyang, Artist in Residence Scholarship in Frankfurt
2015 Graduation Scholarship of the Dr. Marschner Foundation
2014 Price of the FAZit Foundation for graphic and illustration
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2022 TANGA TANGA!, Robert Grunenberg, Berlin, (DE)
2021 Good Vibrations, Robert Grunenberg, Berlin, (DE)
2020 Hallöchen, Robert Grunenberg, (DE)
2019 Major Pectoralis, Timber, Seoul, (KR)
2017 3. Stendaler Lichttage, Kreuzgarten Dom, Stendal, (DE)
2017 Red Roses Club (Aggro Fit), Saasfee Pavillon, Frankfurt am Main, (DE)
2016 Nature is always beautiful, Neuer Kunstverein, Giessen, (DE)
2013 Kunst in Kirchen, St. Gallus, Rodgau (DE)
Group Exhibitions
2022 Dévoyé, Match Art Project, Istanbul, (TR)
2021 Type/Cast/Thrill., Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn, (EE)
2020 Farbe Figurativ, Städtische Galerie, Nordhorn, (DE)
2020 Bodylotion, ZELLER VAN ALMSICK, Viena, (AT)
2020 Sincere Intentions, Robert Grunenberg, Berlin, (DE)
2019 Der letzte Strohhalm, Atelier Frankfurt, Frankfurt, (DE)
2019 Facing the Flat World, MMCA Residency, Goyang (KR)
2019 Die Römischen Votzen & Klitclique, Arge Kultur, Salzburg, (AT)
2018 Wiesbaden Biennale, Die Römischen Votzen Hinterland, Wiesbaden, (DE)
2018 Losing my Virginity, Robert Grunenberg, Berlin (DE)
2018 DGTL FMNSM, European Centre for the Arts, Hellerau, (GE)
2017 Good mourning / Happy ending, Kressmann-Halle, Offenbach am Main, (DE)
2017 Die Römischen Votzen, Parkhaus WK16, Frankfurt am Main, (DE)
2017 Good to talk, Berghain Kantine, Berlin, (DE)
2016 Chicken blood, Off-Space Korrekt, Frankfurt am Main, (DE)
2015 The land after the rainbow, LOTTE / Kunstverein Stuttgart Saloon Krawall, Kampnagel, Hamburg, (DE)
2014 Glass art club, Elaginpark, St. Petersburg, (RU)
2013 Life fleisch, Preview Art Fair, Berlin, (DE)
2013 Fumetto – Int. Comix-Festival, Luzern, (CH)
2012 Scherben bringen Glück, Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt am Main, (DE)
2011 New works, Galerie Bestregarts, Frankfurt am Main, (DE)
2009 Liebesschläuche, Festival der jungen Talente, Offenbach am Main, (DE)
- 2021 Pop-folklore tricksters smashing stereotypes, arterritory, Arterritory
- 2021 Nägel mit Köpfchen: Wenn Fingernägel zur Ausstellungsfläche werden, Gallerytalk
- 2020 ‘It’s a Molotov Cocktail Revolution Baby‘, International FRÄULEIN issue 01/2020
- 2020 KVTV zu Gast bei „Making van Gogh”, Kuba Paris
- 2020 ‘Insta-Watchlist: Sonja Yakovleva’, Monopol Magazin für Kunst und Leben
- 2019 ‘Wir wollen stören’ KVTV, Monopol Magazin für Kunst und Leben
- 2018 ‘Fabulieren mit den Römischen Votzen’, Monopol Magazin für Kunst und Leben
- 2018 ‘Rerscherschiere un Aufarbeide‘, Das Wetter # 16 – Magazin für Text und Musik
- 2017 ‘Wir sind männer- und frauenfeindlich‘, Monopol Magazin für Kunst und Leben
- 2017 ‘Anstatt zu fotografieren’, Schirn Mag