js-lab.net - Janis Schroeder

The European Border photos, research-based, video

During two trips to the region and by researching archives in Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany, Janis Schroeder explored the Bulgarian-Turkish border landscape. For the exhibition he created a collage of found and self-created images, texts and sound material. It is a personal geography of the region, which also critically examines his own perspective and privileges.

Abläufe einer Landschaft installation, photos, research-based, video

What can I learn from a landscape? What are its processes? What are the processes of its human and non-human inhabitants? And what are my processes when I am in the landscape? What is going on when I walk through the landscape? How can the many insights a landscape holds be perceived and recorded?

Le fleuriste photos

11 analogue photographs, 24x36mm format on negative film, ongoing project

Cloud cinema photos

ongoing series of analogue photographs, taken since 2011, 24x36mm format on negative film

Terrain de jeux photos

18 analogue photographs, 24x36mm format on negative film

Zeitraffer [time lapse] photos, video

Zeitraffer shows the development of a Mediterranean island landscape from its original state to the highly developed and technological present. In the form of a photo slideshow with environmental sound, pristine nature morphs into a landscape marked by the first changes made by humans, such as farming and housing, and then into images of a scenery that is strongly affected by an industrial society.

Handwerk installation, photos

The photos show the professional processing of nine different materials: stone, wood, metal, leather, cotton, glass, electricity, photo film, and plastic. In this way they speak about the interaction of hand, machine, and material. The images are juxtaposed with recordings carried out in workshops of the sounds of machines and tools, mixed with conversations the artist had with the craftsmen during their work. Every encounter brings up the same initial question: How has their work changed over time since they started their profession? Very different conversations develop, sometimes longer and more detailed, sometimes very short and concise.

BIOS: Histoires de la Ruhr [BIOS: Stories from the Ruhr] edition, photos, research-based

This artist’s book was created during the research for the video installation Parcours. It brings together many personal and less personal stories that did not make their ways into the videos of the installation: about parts of the conversations with the protagonists of the videos; about a visit underground with three miners in one of the last mines of the Ruhr region still open today; about other artistic practices from the region including those of Richard Serra and James Benning, among others. The stories are juxtaposed with abstract drawings and photos of mushrooms, which stand for the diversity of the stories that were collected in the region, and for the deep connection of the Ruhr region with the soil.

Terrain de jeux photos, video

A mother tells the story of her two sons who started a paintball project. In addition to building three large battlefields, they have also been paintball world cup champions several times. The photo slideshow shows mainly activities that happen on the site around the battlefields. Parents, friends, and family come to accompany those who play. What is the social structure in such a constructed place, and what are the differences of roles between women and men, parents and children?

Genve edition, photos

Photos of sights in Geneva, Switzerland, such as the Jet d’Eau, the cathedral, and the Reformation Wall, as well as photos of daily situations, are shown in this artist book. The main object of each photo disappears partly in the binding of the artist book. New forms and objects appear.