Oliver Gather

Oliver Gather is a visual artist from Düsseldorf, Germany.
Drawing on a sculptural, body- and space-oriented approach, he explores social spaces and how they are used. To this end, he often employs methods derived from ethnology: spending a great deal of time on site, observing patiently and engaging in conversation. In this way, everyday environments that initially seem self-evident come into focus – with their quirky moments and their own internal logic.

During the Borderland Residencies at Projektraum Kranenburg, Oliver Gather will work together with Wiebke Meischner. By chance, the two artists discovered their shared interest in birds. They approach the animals from different angles: Oliver Gather is particularly fascinated by the birds’ ability to shape diverse spaces through their songs, which can become vertical sound columns or expansive areas along the tree canopy. Through conversations with ornithologists and bird enthusiasts, and how these individuals in turn seek contact, a visual observation is explored.
Wiebke Meischner encounters birds with a very personal approach. She is especially interested in the bird as an individual and wants to observe how it uses its environment. In doing so, she primarily wants to examine objects that are man-made and repurposed by birds.
During the Borderland Residencies, they want to follow these approaches together and work primarily with the medium of film. They will embark on joint birding field trips or engage in conversations with local NABU experts from the Kranenburg area.