Sophia Ioannou Gjerding
sophiaioannougjerding@gmail.com
Through research-driven works that draw on popular culture, critical theory, as well as historical sources, Sophia Ioannou Gjerding examines how image production affects us both culturally and politically. In particular, she works with the underlying power structures that characterize today’s image production, such as the representation of gender, nature and history. A key element in her work is a study of the discourses that exist in new image technology such as CGI (computer generated imagery), when the production of virtual worlds in movies and computer games creates a new discourse of objectivity. Gjerding is interested in how fiction and facts are entangled in historical narratives and museum collections, and uses artistic strategies to expose the biases that are incorporated in contemporary culture.
“Sophia Ioannou Gjerding presupposes history as an ever-shifting constellation of stories. To understand the evolution of humans is to interpret visual stories, while the deep time of Earth reveals itself to us in the sounds of animals, land, natural phenomena, and celestial bodies that far exceed our existence. Her practice is archaeological in method and speculative in form, with images playing a central role. She begins her process in places where historicity strives to be both wide and deep, including institutional archives and even video games. There, she collects statues, photographs, documents, characters, and anecdotes, adding artifacts of varying source materials to her ‘carrier bag.’ From this repository, Gjerding selects fragmented nodes to input into relational networks, creating new configurations of protagonists and story arcs that push us to (re)encounter images that saturate our everyday lives.”
- Dayun Ryu (류다연), curator
(→ Read the full text here)
Current and upcoming exhibitions
2023-2024: Participant in 1-2-3 Playtime (lecture and workshop series within gamification) at Inter Arts Center, Malmö, SE
2025: Erratum Galerie, Berlin, DE
2025: Frederikshavns Kunstmuseum, Frederikshavn, DK
2025: ODP3, Copenhagen, DK
EDUCATION
2013-2018
The Jutland Art Academy (Det Jyske Kunstakademi), Aarhus, DK
2016-2017
HFBK University of Fine Arts (Hochschule für Bildende Künste), Hamburg, DE
2013-2018
The Jutland Art Academy (Det Jyske Kunstakademi), Aarhus, DK
2016-2017
HFBK University of Fine Arts (Hochschule für Bildende Künste), Hamburg, DE
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Die Raum, Berlin, DE
2023
Post Territory Ujeongguk, Seoul, KR
2022
Regelbau 411, Thyholm, DK
2022
AEON - Center for Glass & Time, Copenhagen, DK
2019 - 2020
ARoS Art Museum, Aarhus, DK
2019
Organon Exhibition Space, Odense, DK
2019
Demorummet, Galleri Image, Aarhus, DK
2019
Pop-up Kunstrum, Vejle, DK
2018
The Center Of Multisensory Art, Malmö, SE
2015
Spanien19C, Aarhus, DK
2024
Die Raum, Berlin, DE
2023
Post Territory Ujeongguk, Seoul, KR
2022
Regelbau 411, Thyholm, DK
2022
AEON - Center for Glass & Time, Copenhagen, DK
2019 - 2020
ARoS Art Museum, Aarhus, DK
2019
Organon Exhibition Space, Odense, DK
2019
Demorummet, Galleri Image, Aarhus, DK
2019
Pop-up Kunstrum, Vejle, DK
2018
The Center Of Multisensory Art, Malmö, SE
2015
Spanien19C, Aarhus, DK
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
& FESTIVALS
2024
Rare Effect: Digital Arts and Decentralised Technology Festival, Lisbon, PT
2024
Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2024
Inter Arts Center, Malmö, SE
2024
Kunsthal 6100, Haderslev, DK
2023
DAFT “A-Real Engine”, Taipei Digital Art Festival, Taipei, TW
2023
ARKO Art Center, Seoul, KR
2022
Galleri CC, Malmö, SE
2022
New Media Artspace, New York, US
2022
Brussels Independent Film Festival, Brussels, BE
2021
Art Sonje Center, Seoul, KR
2021
Slamdance Film Festival, California, US
2021
Gravmonumenter, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2021
Oxford Film Festival, Oxford, US
2021
Default Cube, KØS Museum for kunst i det offentlige rum, Køge, DK
2020
LYS.MUR, Svendborg, DK
2020
Imago Lisboa, Lisbon, PT
2020
VAFT 2020, Video Art Festival Turku, FI
2020
STIFF (Seattle True Independent Film Festival), Seattle, US
2020
Festival ECRÃ's 4th edition, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2020
CLICK Festival, Helsingør, DK
2020
Rebreather: The wind as a drunk, commissioned by Kunsthal Aarhus, Kunsthal Aarhus Sculpture Park, Aarhus, DK
2019
Expanded Animation, Korea,
Foundation Gallery, Seoul, KR
2019
VAF, Viborg Animation Festival, Viborg, DK
2019
Leviathan, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2018
KH7 Artspace, Aarhus, DK
2018
SES, Afgang18, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2017
I am ALVA, presented at Videomøllen, in a collaboration between DIAS Kunsthal and Arken Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen, DK
2017
The Final Exhibition, Copenhagen, DK
2017
Captive Raum OPortal, Aarhus, DK
2017
Dyrepolitik, Art Weekend, Aarhus, DK
2017
Jahresausstellung HFBK, Hamburg, DE
2016
Calculation, Nordic Contemporary Art, Kurgan Regional Art Museum, Kurgan, RU
2016
Things Taking Up Space, The Jutland Art Academy, Aarhus, DK
2015
SITE, Art Weekend, Aarhus, DK
2014
Bite Vilnius Kinas, Artists’ Association Gallery (Dailininkų sajungos galerija), Vilnius, LT
& FESTIVALS
2024
Rare Effect: Digital Arts and Decentralised Technology Festival, Lisbon, PT
2024
Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2024
Inter Arts Center, Malmö, SE
2024
Kunsthal 6100, Haderslev, DK
2023
DAFT “A-Real Engine”, Taipei Digital Art Festival, Taipei, TW
2023
ARKO Art Center, Seoul, KR
2022
Galleri CC, Malmö, SE
2022
New Media Artspace, New York, US
2022
Brussels Independent Film Festival, Brussels, BE
2021
Art Sonje Center, Seoul, KR
2021
Slamdance Film Festival, California, US
2021
Gravmonumenter, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2021
Oxford Film Festival, Oxford, US
2021
Default Cube, KØS Museum for kunst i det offentlige rum, Køge, DK
2020
LYS.MUR, Svendborg, DK
2020
Imago Lisboa, Lisbon, PT
2020
VAFT 2020, Video Art Festival Turku, FI
2020
STIFF (Seattle True Independent Film Festival), Seattle, US
2020
Festival ECRÃ's 4th edition, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2020
CLICK Festival, Helsingør, DK
2020
Rebreather: The wind as a drunk, commissioned by Kunsthal Aarhus, Kunsthal Aarhus Sculpture Park, Aarhus, DK
2019
Expanded Animation, Korea,
Foundation Gallery, Seoul, KR
2019
VAF, Viborg Animation Festival, Viborg, DK
2019
Leviathan, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2018
KH7 Artspace, Aarhus, DK
2018
SES, Afgang18, Kunsthal Aarhus, Aarhus, DK
2017
I am ALVA, presented at Videomøllen, in a collaboration between DIAS Kunsthal and Arken Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen, DK
2017
The Final Exhibition, Copenhagen, DK
2017
Captive Raum OPortal, Aarhus, DK
2017
Dyrepolitik, Art Weekend, Aarhus, DK
2017
Jahresausstellung HFBK, Hamburg, DE
2016
Calculation, Nordic Contemporary Art, Kurgan Regional Art Museum, Kurgan, RU
2016
Things Taking Up Space, The Jutland Art Academy, Aarhus, DK
2015
SITE, Art Weekend, Aarhus, DK
2014
Bite Vilnius Kinas, Artists’ Association Gallery (Dailininkų sajungos galerija), Vilnius, LT
GRANTS & PRIZES
2022
Winner of the Lumen Art Prize 2022 (Nordic Award)
2022
Work grant, given by The Danish Arts Foundation
2021
Danish Arts Foundation Career Program: “Den unge kunstneriske elite” (”The Young Artistic Elite”)
2019
Work grant, given by The Danish Arts Foundation
2018
Art Prize, given by Kunsthal Aarhus, Godsbanen and ARoS Art Museum for film Prop People
2017
Nominated for The Kjell Nupen Memorial Grant
2016
Oticon Fonden travel grant
2016
Knud Højgaards Fond travel grant
2015
Ny Carlsberg Fondet travel grant
RESIDENCIES
2022
Open Workshop, The Animation Workshop, Viborg, DK
2021
Det Danske Institut i Rom (Danish Institute in Rome), Rome, IT
2020
Det Danske Institut i Rom (Danish Institute in Rome), Rome, IT
2019
ARoS Atelier, ARoS, Aarhus, DK
2018
AIR WRO, Wrocław, PL
2018
The Center Of Multisensory Art, Malmö, SE
TEACHING
2024
Københavns Kunstskole
2024
Krabbesholm Højskole
2023
Københavns Kunstskole
OTHER
2024
Co-curator of Double:Binding:World:Tree, together with Solin Yoon and SeonHyeoung Kim, Post Terroritory Ujeongguk, Seoul, KR
2019
Curated the exhibition series Demo at Demorummet, Galleri Image (Aarhus, Denmark) together with William Kudahl
2016 - 2022
Founder and member of the exhibition platform ORAUM
2016 - 2017
Member of Evaluation Committee, External Evaluation of KIT, Trondheim
2022
Winner of the Lumen Art Prize 2022 (Nordic Award)
2022
Work grant, given by The Danish Arts Foundation
2021
Danish Arts Foundation Career Program: “Den unge kunstneriske elite” (”The Young Artistic Elite”)
2019
Work grant, given by The Danish Arts Foundation
2018
Art Prize, given by Kunsthal Aarhus, Godsbanen and ARoS Art Museum for film Prop People
2017
Nominated for The Kjell Nupen Memorial Grant
2016
Oticon Fonden travel grant
2016
Knud Højgaards Fond travel grant
2015
Ny Carlsberg Fondet travel grant
RESIDENCIES
2022
Open Workshop, The Animation Workshop, Viborg, DK
2021
Det Danske Institut i Rom (Danish Institute in Rome), Rome, IT
2020
Det Danske Institut i Rom (Danish Institute in Rome), Rome, IT
2019
ARoS Atelier, ARoS, Aarhus, DK
2018
AIR WRO, Wrocław, PL
2018
The Center Of Multisensory Art, Malmö, SE
TEACHING
2024
Københavns Kunstskole
2024
Krabbesholm Højskole
2023
Københavns Kunstskole
OTHER
2024
Co-curator of Double:Binding:World:Tree, together with Solin Yoon and SeonHyeoung Kim, Post Terroritory Ujeongguk, Seoul, KR
2019
Curated the exhibition series Demo at Demorummet, Galleri Image (Aarhus, Denmark) together with William Kudahl
2016 - 2022
Founder and member of the exhibition platform ORAUM
2016 - 2017
Member of Evaluation Committee, External Evaluation of KIT, Trondheim