Bella Angora
Bella Angora, lives and works after numerous stays abroad (London, San Francisco, Hamburg, Zürich, Copenhagen) in Vienna.
She started her career as a musician. Since 2001 she is operating very clearly in the doctrine of the performative. Her productions are mostly combinations of video, installation, literary elements as well as livemusic.

Her critical examination of social structures and processes occurs symptomatically and essentially based on personal reflexion and experiences. Her body functions as a carrier material and projection surface. In her intense performances she directs the viewer’s gaze to the point, where they might recognizes themselfes. Angora addresses the big questions of our time within touching, intimate and expressive actions.

Furthermore the fusion of emotion and intellect is the driving force behind her work. From her point of view the complemental term for ratio(nality) is emotio(nality) rather than irrationality. Instead of advocating the polarity of reason and irrationality, she strives to strike a balance between the logical and psychological aspects of human life. In how far can this equilibrium between heart and mind change the way we life, influence our decisions, our perceptions, or even the world we life in?

Bella Angora is working on twisting the common perceptions of reality and the system of norms, patterns and social interaction that controls it. By doing so, the object is to create a critique of values that are often presented as being objective true and to produce an image of an utopic, but possible universe, where everyone is co-creating reality through open interaction and active positioning.

grants and awards: 

Egon Schiele Award 2022 (shortlist)

Ehrenpreis für Kunst des Landes Vorarlberg 2021

Konstanzer Kunstpreis 2014 (shortlist)

Österreichisches Staatsstipendium für Video- und Medienkunst, 2013

Silvrettatelier 2012, Vlbg. Illwerke 2012

Stipendium Berlin, Land Vorarlberg 2010

CPH AIR-Stipendium, Art Departure, Copenhagen 2008

Danish Art Council 2005 

Migros Kulturprozent 2004 

Ausserrhodische Kulturstiftung 2004 

Renee & Renia Schlesinger Art Foundation 2003 

Danish Art Council 2003

exhibitions/performances/projects:

ME, MYSELF & TIME
Vorarlberger Landestheater, Bregenz 2024                                                                                                                                    
MQ Summerstage, Vienna 2024                                                                                                                                                                     GIER by Sarah Kane
Vorarlberger Landestheater, Bregenz 2023/24                                                                                                                                        Gekommen um zu bleiben. Check.
Theater Kosmos, Bregenz 2023
Parallel Vienna
solopresentation with Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, Vienna 2022
Schiele Award
Minoritenkloster Tulln, 2022
Quadratur des Kreises oder Gekommen um zu bleiben oder Orpheus geht
Kunstraum Dornbirn 2022
Neue Mitglieder
Berufsvereinigung der Bildenden Künstler, Palais Thurn und Taxis, Bregenz 2022
Leuchtturm
Vorarlberger Landestheater, Bregenz 2022
Magazin4, Bregenz 2021
CLOSE/R
vorarlberg museum, 2021
Echoraum, Vienna 2021
Shutdown. Vorarlberg und Corona
vorarlberg museum, 2020
Kunstankäufe Land Vorarlberg
Galerie AllerArt, Bludenz, 2020
4 gewinnt
DER MIXER galerie, Frankfurt, 2020
performative entsprechung eines wertungsresistenten prozesses (solo)
Salon Reiter, Schwarzach, 2019
over and in
Kunstinitiative, Frankfurt, 2019
just happy
ORF-Funkhaus Dornbirn, 2019
Bildraum Studios, Ankerbrotfabrik, Vienna, 2018
sonic objections
Bildraum Bodensee, Bregenz, 2018
swing. dance to the right
video/stage design for aktionstheater ensemble, 2017/18
don´t call it off-space
das weisse haus, Vienna, 2017
Auf Einladung
Forum für aktuelle Kunst,Villa Claudia, Feldkirch, 2017
Life Affairs
Forum für aktuelle Kunst,Villa Claudia, Feldkirch, 2016
Sale on Site
Kunstraum Hollenstein, Lustenau 2016
perFOURmance
Kunsthalle Eurocenter, Lana (It), 2016
die weisse-ab-haus-verkaufs-kunstschau #5
das weisse haus, Vienna 2016
Frühling
Kunstkanal, Vienna 2016
Flashback & Guests
Gallery Stalke, Copenhagen 2016
performative entsprechung eines wertungsresistenten prozesses & bonusmaterial (solo)
das weisse haus, Vienna 2015
Transfer
Kunstraum Engländerbau, Vaduz 2015
pathosschwangeres performance-melodram über einen wertungsresistenten prozess
mittels verwendung akustischer sequenzen polarisierender hollywood-standardszenen

Kunstraum Engländerbau, 2015
acht mal neu
Villa Claudia, Feldkirch 2015
hyperhidrosis
Casino Fatale, Artfestival, Dornbirn 2014
Art Unanchored, Artfestival Wien/Bratislava 2014
soft, slow & sweaty – break unltd.
Donaufestival Krems, 2013
bella angora – das signierte wunder
Frauenmuseum Hittisau, 2013
air berlin
Villa Claudia, Feldkirch 2013
silvrettatelier
Palais Liechtenstein, Feldkirch 2013
dein leben sucht nach dir (solo)
Gallery Stephanie Hollenstein, Lustenau 2012
art bodensee
with Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, 2012
Nicht nur ein Bild, sondern eine ganze Welt
Kunstraum Niederösterreich, Vienna 2012
art bodensee – opening performance
art bodensee, 2012
me perceive place
Paraflows, Vienna 2012
Viennafair with Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, 2011
Darkroom (solo)
Nikolaj Kunsthallen, Copenhagen 2011
On Paper
Gallery Stalke, Copenhagen 2010
soft, slow & sweaty (solo)
Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, Bregenz 2010
The Kosovo Art Gallery, Pristina 2010
On View 1
Gallery Stalke, Copenhagen 2009
Art Copenhagen
Artfair Copenhagen with Gallery Stalke 2009
Vienna Fair
with Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, Vienna 2009
Austria for Beginners
Mueum of New Art, Detroit 2009
MultiAnima Gallery Stalke, Copenhagen 2008
st.ART (solo)
ALT CPH, Copenhagen 2008
tik, Dornbirn 2008
Kunstbox, Bregenz 2008
I refuse to battle (solo)

Gallery Stalke up North, Copenhagen 2008
I refuse to battle – I am not afraid to love
ABEL neue Kunst, Berlin 2008
Rote Fabrik, Zürich 2010
Poolbar, Feldkirch 2009
Projektraum Exex. St. Gallen 2008
Kunstsalon, Vienna 2008
fluc, Vienna 2008
tik, Dornbirn 2008
Bella Angora versus Christian Falsnaes (solo)
Gallery North/Stalke out of Space, Copenhagen 2007
kargology
ALT CPH, Copenhagen 2008
Hotel Gershwin, New York 2008
Mak Nite, Museum for Applied Art/Contemporary Art, Vienna 2007
Triangle Project, sideproject of the 10th Istanbul Biennale 2007
appearance, deception, showtime!
Kunstraum Engländerbau, Vaduz 2007
Deconstructing Eden
Projectroom exex, St. Gallen 2007
Art Copenhagen
with Gallery Stalke, Copenhagen 2007
appearance, deception, showtime! (solo)
Gallery Dunk!, Copenhagen 2007
Das Gute muss nicht immer das Böse sein
Kunstraum Engländerbau, Vaduz 2007
FakeFuck (solo)
Stalke out of Space, Copenhagen 2006
Copenhagen Alternative Art Fair 2006
strange cargo
Quartier für digitale Kultur, Museumsquartier, Vienna 2006
economy class
Alliance Francaise in Nairobi, Kenya 2006
Kunsthalle Wien, Projectspace, Vienna 2006
dePlaced (solo)
Stalke Gallery, Kirke Sonnerup 2006
arbejde, arbejde, arbejde
Overgaden institute of contemporary art, Copenhagen 2006
Sample
Quartier für digitale Kultur, Museumsquartier, Vienna 2006
Copenhagen Alternative Art Fair 2006
dePlaced
Stalke Gallery, Kirke Sonnerup 2006
The “stop slavery“ expansion
Overgaden Institute of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen 2006
Semperdepot, Vienna, 2006
Alter Egos discovering the real content of patterned KARGO (solo)
Gallery Espai Pupu, Barcelona 2005
Texas Rangers trying to solve the Cow-Bell-Massacre-Problem (solo)
Kaskadenkondensator, Basel 2005
Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zürich 2004
Projekraum Exex, St.Gallen 2005
Reality
Gallery Stalke, Kirke Sonnerup 2005
Patterns
Künstlerhaus, Stuttgart 2005
Migros Museum, Zürich 2004
Nachschub, Feldkirch 2004
rest in peace
Blauer Saal, Zürich 2004
Feel
Galerie Message Salon, Zurich 2003
Romantik
Museum Platte, Zürich 2003
Himmel & Hölle
Sihlpapier-Museum, Zürich 2003
Abenteuer Menschlichkeit
Salzburger Festspiele 2003
Tarzan says: Dam´n, I´m wet! Jane says: You stole my punchline.
Syntosihl, Zürich 2003
Remote, Kunstfestival Hamburg 2003
Galerie Valdemarsgade, Copenhagen 2003
Galerie 21, Malmö 2003


other:

ReThinking.Tradition
exchange project between Land Vorarlberg and Amt für Deutsche Kultur, Autonome Provinz Bozen Südtirol (2024)
organisation, curating

DA.ZWISCHEN
exchange project between Land Vorarlberg, Amt für Deutsche Kultur, Autonome Provinz Bozen Südtirol and Südtiroler Künstlerbund (2018/19)
organisation, curating

Casino Fatale – das Spiel mit dem Wahnsinn
Artfestival, Dornbirn Messegelände (2014)
organisation, curating

Expect us!
Streetart-Festival in Zürich (2004)
organisation, curating

Hafenklang
Kulturzentrum Hamburg (1996-97)
squatting, foundation, organisation, booking

publications:

„Das Scheitern der Amsel“, illustrated short story, 2017
„dein leben sucht nach dir“, audio-cd, Vienna 2012
„yes, i do“, Catalogue 2011
“re.sonance.network.mission.007″, sonance.artistic.network, Vienna 2007
“Das Gute muss nicht immer das Böse sein“, Catalogue 2007
“dePlaced“, Catalogue 2006
“Nachschub“, Catalogue 2004
“book b”, Comic in Artmagazin, Bruessel 2004
“FEEL”, CD Zurich 2003
“La Bella Angora”, CD Vienna 2003
“Liebhaben“, CD, Vienna 2003
“Stereo“, MC, Hamburg 2000
“Sofa Riders“, CD, Vienna 1996