Julia Schewalie

Julia Schewalie was born in 1988 in Krasilovka, in the region of Pawlodar in the Kazakh SSR, today the Republic of Kazakhstan, and she came to Germany in 1996, when her family was repatriated due to its German heritage. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich from 2009 to 2015 with Anke Doberauer and Hermann Pitz. She graduated with a “Diplom” in Fine Art. Her works have been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Poland, the Netherlands, and Austria. She has not only received two residency fellowships (Center for Polish Sculpture in Orońsko, Poland in 2018 and Vila Paula, Klenová, Czech Republic 2021), but her works have also been purchased by the Bavarian State Painting Collection in 2017 and 2018. In 2018 she was the winner of the Kunstverein Aichach art fellowship.

Our reality, like our personality, is constantly shifting. This is a mesmerizing aspect of Julia Schewalie's works, which are ephemeral and use unusual materials. Initially appearing monochrome, they reveal variegation upon closer inspection. Her works depend on their surroundings, light, shadows, and movement, continuously changing appearance. The dynamic quality of her surfaces engages viewers and alters with light and position changes.

Schewalie’s works have evolved since 2009 from fragmented canvases to incorporating movement, using materials like cement, shellac, and silkscreens inspired by Art Informel. Her fascination with surfaces is evident, conveying her enthusiasm to viewers. Her art requires engagement with its reflections, shades, and unique qualities.

Using a minimalistic approach, Schewalie combines various materials, removing herself from the final result to allow viewers to engage directly with her work. Her careful arrangement of elements like vinyl slivers, nylon threads, and glass rods creates dynamic, constantly changing surfaces. She explores materials in ways that obscure their origins, blending sculptural and painterly techniques.

Although predominantly monochromatic, Schewalie’s works focus on structures and reflections rather than the materials' original purposes. She explores materials' full range of qualities, accepting their potential changes. Her works create contemplative moments, encouraging viewers to immerse themselves and reflect on the fleeting nature of existence, much like the lighting effects in Byzantine churches. Schewalie’s journey invites us to share in her poetic discovery process, continually probing the veracity of materials.

From: Anna Wondrak, Beneath the Surface - On the works of Julia Schewalie