Nina Tobien
Behind the Scenes
Nov 2 - Dec 21, 2019

As poetic dream images, absurd pictorial commentaries, mysterious encounters and provocative questions, we see notations in which a specific atmosphere is captured and expressed through color choice, motif and composition. 

In the exhibition "Behind the Scenes", artist Nina Tobien literally lets visitors look behind the façade, into what has hitherto been her hidden artistic creations. On small to middle-sized formats which are covered with colorful textiles, the artist uses painterly means to capture scenes that seem from mysterious and sometimes disconcerting moments with diffuse spatial situations and strange bodies and figures.

The artist emphasizes the personal character of each work. The process of the "écriture automatique" is carried by Nina Tobien into contemporary painting. Tobien uses vintage fabrics that she finds on her travels, learns about their history and how they were made. The artist also learns how to use old techniques herself, like weaving, Tie-Dying using real Indigo from Japan, "Dragon’s blood" from Sumatra, or the Tjandjang tool from Indonesia to create other more ornate batik fabrics. 

Meta Marina Beeck

Nina Tobien (born 1974) completed her studies at Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main with Heiner Blum and at Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste - Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main, where she completed her studies as a master student of Michael Krebber. She received work and residence scholarships from Hessische Kulturstiftung, the Kulturamt Frankfurt am Main, the Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst and Goldrausch Art IT, Berlin, among others. 

Her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, most recently at the MMK Museum of Modern Art Frankfurt am Main, the Frankfurter Kunstverein, the Westfälischer Kunstverein, Münster, the Kunstverein Göttingen, Istanbul Biennale, the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil and Atelier Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main. 

Nina Tobien lives and works in Berlin. This is her second exhibition with Galerie Parisa Kind, after showing in 2012 at the gallery’s former project space „Deuxième Bureau“.