Sophie Ernst (b. 1972)
Biography | Text

 

Sophie Ernst grew up in Holland. She initially trained as an industrial mechanic at BMW. After graduating from the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam she received a grant from the Prins Bernhard Fonds to travel to Pakistan. Since then she has lived and exhibited across Europe and Asia. In 2006 she was awarded the UNESCO Aschberg bursary. Ernst currently lives and teaches in Lahore, Pakistan and Berlin, Germany.

Awards / Grants / Residencies
2006 Artist in residence, Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi
2005 Aschberg bursary, UNESCO
2004 Dermiaan, Nehr Ghar Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
2003 Travel grant, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds
Artist in residence, National College of Art, Lahore, Pakistan
2002 Grant, startstipendium, The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts
1999-2000 Stichting Intendance
1998

eXamen, De Fabriek, Eindhoven, NL
Solo Shows
2005 Lovedolls, Abguss Sammlung Antiker Plastik, Berlin, Gemany
2004 Lovedolls, Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke, München, Germany
2003 Aaj, Rothas II Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
2002

Overtures_Gellschaftsspiel, Gedok, Stuttgart, Germany
Group Shows and Screenings
2007

Best of Discovery, Shanghai Contemporary, Shanghai, China
Paradise Lost, Royal Geographical Society, London, UK
Politics of Fear, Albion Gallery, London, UK
Art Projects, DIFC Gulf Art Fair, Dubai, UAE
Love, National Gallery of Art, Islamabad, Pakistan
Re-forming Landscape, National Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
2006

Places Real and Imagined, Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
Metrospective, Alliance Francaise, New Delhi, India
2005

Sirf Tum two person show, Rothas II, Lahore, Pakistan
KO videofestival, Durban, South Africa
2004

Along the X Axis, Apeejay Media Gallery, Delhi, India

2002 Touching from a Distance, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork, Ireland
2001 2001: A Public Space Odyssey, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2000

EXPO 2000, world exhibition, WWPD, Hanover, Germany
SmokkelSchmuggelSmuggle, Stichting Smokkel, Kunstverein Aachen, Germany
Selected Curatorial Projects
2006 Burqa Projections, fine art students of Jamia Millia Islamiat University, in collaboration with Khoj and Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi
2005 Burqa Projections, second year students of Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan
2003 Edit in Camera, students of the National College of Art, NCA Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
2002 Video in the City, annual video festival, Hedah, Maastricht, Netherlands
2000

EXPO 2000, The World Exhibition, Haus der WeltWeiten Projekte Deutschland (art direction), Hanover, Germany
Publications (selection)
2004

LOVEDOLLS, Sophie Ernst, Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildewerke, Munich, Germany
Shifting Map, Rain, Rijksakademie, Nai Publishers, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2002

Touching From a Distance, Stichting Germinations, Antwerpen, Belgium
Overtures – Gesellschaftsspiel, Sophie Ernst, Xhoch2, Gedok, Stuttgart, Germany
2000 SmokkelSchmuggelSmuggle, Anke Schäfer, Stichting Smokkel, Aachen, Germany

Media / Press (selection)

Nasar, Hamad. “Lines of Control,” Art Asia Pacific. July-August 2007. New York

Jones, Laura K. “The Politics of Fear at Albion, London,” editorial: The Saatchi Gallery, London Contemporary Art Gallery. http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk. March 30, 2007. UK

Bokhari, Naureen. “Rendezvous,” The Saturday Post. March 3-9, 2007. USA

Mirza, Quddus. “Put in their Place,” Encore, The News on Sunday. June 6, 2006. Pakistan

Bhattacharya, Rahul. “Go behind the veil,” The Saatchi Gallery: London Contemporary Art Gallery. http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk. June 11, 2006. UK

Dar, Saira. “A variety of landscape,” DAWN. May 27, 2006. Pakistan

Ali, Attega. “Places real and imagined,” The Nation. May 21, 2006. Pakistan

Rehman, Omer. “Landscape in Contemporary Art,” The Post. May 24, 2006. Pakistan

Main, Naeem. “Real and imaginary,” Cutting Edge. May 31, 2006. Pakistan

Ahmed, Shoaib. “New definitions of landscape at Alhamra,” Alhamra featuring “Places real and imagined,” 2006. Pakistan

Bhattacharya, Rahul. “Go behind the veil,” MOA. May 2006. India

“‘Flights of Fancy’ at Royaat Gallery,” Daily Times. April 6, 2006. Pakistan

Sarfraz, Emanual. “Exploring flights of fancy,” The Nation. April 5, 2006. Pakistan

Rafique, Fareeha. “Another trip,” The News on Sunday. March 30, 2006. Pakistan

Mirza, Quddus. “A feel for love,” Encore, The News on Sunday. May 15, 2005. Pakistan

Mirza, Quddus. “Doll’s display,” VISAGE. Vol. 14, No. 3: 62, 2005. Pakistan

Dar, Saira. “Saying it with dolls,” Metropolitan, DAWN. May 14, 2005. Pakistan