Christina Kirchinger
23 MAY 2025
An artist from Regensburg, Bavaria. Years of studying Visual Arts and Literature led her to recently receive a PhD. Kristina explores the human body and fragility in human relationships
An artist from Regensburg, Bavaria. Years of studying Visual Arts and Literature led her to recently receive a PhD. Kristina explores the human body and fragility in human relationships
Drawing is most important to me. I love its distance from reality and yet its immediate connectedness to it. Where do we ever see gray pencil lines in the world? And how easily are they drawn? Finally, drawings can stay drawings or become intaglio prints or artist’s books.
What is your medium?
Recently, I moved from architectural spaces towards bodily spaces. In my current project, I explore the fragility in human relationships. As soon as one opens up, one becomes vulnerable. I am interested in understanding what it means "to be touched." Also, I strive to explore the ideas of human secrets and hidden longings.
What emotions and ideas do you explore in your work?
Where did you study?
In Regensburg. There, I have studied Visual Arts, French literature, English literature and linguistics and Art History. I completed my studies with a Master’s degree in Visual Arts in 2015 and have recently defended my PhD thesis in Arts, too.
I’m from Regensburg, Germany, and I came to Clermont for an artist residency at Chalet Lecoq. Here, I will participate with an open studio during Les Arts en Balade, have an artist talk the Tuesday after and hope to meet wonderful people!
Tell us about yourself
When it hurts. When it is so true, when it touches you and you cannot escape. I am convinced art must be honest and authentic. And, when it keeps you thinking and discovering.
What makes art successful or meaningful?
Paul Klee’s notion of "making visible" was revealing to me. He is not interested in the surfaces, but in the underlying workings and principles of the world. I recommend reading his lectures. Studying nature—in the broadest sense—is what I feel I do, too. I also try to find visual forms for the questions I have.
Which artists inspire you?
I love the moment when I am totally lost in drawing, when I’m truly immersed in the moment, when it’s just the paper, the pencil and me. I feel comfortable in not knowing, because only then can I discover.
What part of the process is most important to you?
— I feel comfortable in not knowing, because only then can I discover.
How do you find Clermont?
The local art scene is so wonderfully thriving and alive! Evgeny Granilshchikov’s exhibition at the Chapelle de l’Ancien Hôpital Général was incredibly thought-provoking. Thinking of Chalet Lecoq, I love the balcony! It has offered so many fascinating ideas while I was staring into the distance.
Were there any turning points in your life?
My first artist residency in the United States in 2022 was mind-blowing. I met many fascinating artists, among them the American poet Jon Pineda. He shared some of his poems after a studio visit and we had an intense year-long collaboration.
There have been several works that mark a change. A recent one was my first artist‘s book that I finished last autumn. I have really opened up, both as a human and an artist. This work is a cryptic predecessor for my current project, which its title "Encounter" indicates.
Which of your works are most important to you?
