Birte Stolte

von Yuchen Song

„Do you hear my sights swimming with the horizontal waves, calmly prowling the rocks by its million beaches?
Do you feel my rage within the inferno of self-igniting woods, families burning down in agony?
Do you taste my sorrow fleeting in the deadly silence after battle?
Country against county, clan against clan, man against women, sexes against genders, people against people, humans against elements, cold against heat, you against nature, you against me.“ 

„Oder kann es sein, dass in aller Ehrlichkeit alle nur Angst vor der wahren Antwort haben?
Vor der Zerstörungskraft, dem Mut und Aufbegehren?“ 

When I think of Birte, the first image that comes to my mind is of her standing on stage, in the spotlight. It seems like all the energy is gathered in her, she smiles, and right after that, you hear her voice: strong, determined, and inclusive. In front of the microphone, she seems like a sword. When I asked her how she would describe herself as an artist, she said,

"Birte Stolte (she/they) is a conceptual, performative and multi-media oriented artist, who combines their passions, for example for photography and film, but mostly centers around her writing and their ability to liricly conceptualize her work from the beginning." 

Yes, this is her. 

If you know more about her, you will see more impactful and beautiful works. In her photographs, her models seem to be on stage of a secret theater. Birte captures their vulnerability and aggression. Birte's photographs always seem to have a very narrative, even dramatic feeling. In her photography works “PINK SHOWER”, she made this small and narrow shower room into a magical place. With the purple lights and strong makeup, you can even feel a subtle and beautiful sense of ghostliness. Through these shots, it's as if you are standing behind her, your eyes following her gaze. You can feel her amazing mastery of beauty: the body, the movements, the eyes of the models; relaxed, tired, playful... The colors of the clothes, the makeup and the lighting dance together. You will be dragged into this mysterious play. 

And the most important, her powerful and moving writing. I think writing is a natural process and way for Birte. Her words are just like a kind of breath in her works, and also, an important part of her artistic practice. 

Through these words, you have been able to see her, to see an energetic, courageous, poetic artist.