Olivia Coeln

* 1991 in Vienna, lives in Vienna

Olivia Coeln is interested in the forms of projection and mystification of both human and non-human beings, as they emerge from folklore, fables, fairy tales, comics and films. Her ongoing series Carps shows photographs of koi carp taken in aquariums and zoos, with the post-production of the original images forming a central part of Coeln‘s working process. Gestures and facial expressions are digitally altered, colors, filters, lights are added and parts of different images are collaged. The Dutch fish auctioneer Adriaen Coenen illustrated a book in the middle of the 16th century in which he combined lifelike studies of different types of marine life as well as imaginary beings, such as dragons and sea monsters. Following this interplay of natural, fantastic and animistic fragments, Olivia Coeln condenses these differing elements into psychedelic picture montages.