SONJA YAKOVLEVA ON INSTAGRAMSONJA YAKOVLEVA born *1989 in Potsdam. Lives and works in Frankfurt am Main.
Education
2008–2016 Hochschule für Gestaltung, Offenbach with Heiner Blum, Mariola Brillowska and Juliane Rebentisch (DE)
2014 Hochschule der Bildenden Künste, Athens (GR)
Solo Exhibitions and Performances
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), solo exhibition, Saasfee Pavillon, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
2016 Nature is always beautiful, solo exhibition, Neuer Kunstverein, Giessen (DE)
2013 Kunst in Kirchen, St. Gallus, Rodgau (DE)
Group Exhibitions and Performances (Selection)
2021 Type/Cast/Thrill., Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn (EE)
2020 Farbe Figurativ, Städtische Galerie Nordhorn (DE)
2020 Bodylotion, ZELLER VAN ALMSICK (AUT)
2020 Sincere Intentions, Robert Grunenberg (DE)
2019 Der letzte Strohhalm, Atelier Frankfurt (DE)
2019 Major Pectoralis, Timber, Seoul (KR)
2019 Facing the Flat World, MMCA Residency Goyang (KR)
2019 Die Römischen Votzen & Klitclique, Arge Kultur, Salzburg (AU)
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)
Awards / Grants
2020 Arbeitsstipendium Stiftung Kunstfonds
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
Sonja Yakovleva’s work questions the ideology behind material value and social inequality. Located on the boundary between art and handicraft, she shows paper cuttings of alternative realities that often depict female protagonists. Yakovleva stresses that her choice of material is often considered more feminine than it should be – in reality it is rare that a handcraft is dominated by women. Yet in terms of content her work is full of revealing observations of patriarchal structures and heteronormative power relations. Die Römischen Votzen are a collective formed around the artists Giulietta Ockenfuß and Sonja Yakovleva, who write and perform provocative, lo-fi rap songs. They address social inequalities, are inflammatory, and reflect an anti-authoritarian desire for self-determination. Their song “Frigido”, for example, is about the controversy surrounding unisex toilets. Their refreshingly rational approach: people are uptight and no one is interested in your genitals. The duo’s visual art also unravels social, gender and sexual stereotypes.
—Bianca Heuser, 2018
2021 Pop-folklore tricksters smashing stereotypes, arterritory (link)
2021 Nägel mit Köpfchen: Wenn Fingernägel zur Ausstellungsfläche werden (link, link)
2020 ‘It’s a Molotov Cocktail Revolution Baby‘, International FRÄULEIN issue 01/2020
2020 KVTV zu Gast bei „Making van Gogh“ in Kuba Paris
2020 ‘Insta-Watchlist: Sonja Yakovleva’ in Monopol Magazin für Kunst und Leben
2019 ‘Wir wollen stören’ KVTV in Monopol Magazin für Kunst und Leben
2018 ‘Fabulieren mit den Römischen Votzen’ in 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’ in Schirn Mag
