Johanna K Becker focuses on finding “archaic” images of landscape and ideas of paradise which she sees as traditional manifestations, simulations and simulacra of landscape and nature and which she artistically recreates in a distinctively artificial manner.

She uses her insights from her critical analysis to create drawings as well as polymeric models, the latter of which are often being embedded in polymeric resin. These artificial models of landscape aesthetically and formally refer to the representation of preparations and artefacts in Natural History Collections and Cabinets of Wonder. Since the chemically solidified, hermetically closed models of landscapes and objects reject the ontological status of tangibility, the so presented objects of the artist – other than the objects of curiosity and artefacts of historical collections – are destined to remain forever untouched. Additionally, the demonstrative synthetic materiality of her modelled landscapes reflect the constructional character of the “archaic” landscape-concept that are defined and constructed differently within the cultural context and, to the day, constitute “our” hyperreality continuously.

Website: Johanna K Becker