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René Kersting

Architect and Artist
Cologne

Please, introduce yourself and your Studio…

My name is René Kersting. In my Cologne based studio, I work in between architecture and art. This means, that I work contentual on architectural topics which I am interested in. Thereby I use various instruments, like hand drawings, sculptural models, photographic series, projections and installations.These works deal with the fundamentals of architecture – mass, space, light, shadow, proportion, relation, surface, atmosphere.
 
In these projects, working with my hands is very important to me. Even though it is necessary to be able to do digital drawings, perspectives and plannings, I think that working digital impedes working on the innermost of a topic. Working through the screen, like a filter, we are only scratching on the surface of things.

How did you find your way into the field of Architecture?

I think in my case the question «How did you lose your way into the field of architecture?» would be more appropriate.

After studying architecture I had the possibility to study «Baukunst» at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. There I could have continued working on architecture, as it is understood in general. But I met people, I had conversations, saw architectural and artistic works, that had nothing in common with things I knew before. In addition to this, I learned what it means to think and work free. These impacts led me to the point where I am now.

What are your experiences working «im Spannungsfeld» between art and architecture?

Working in between art and architecture means to think and work in a larger range. Both disciplines do have an impact on each other and, of course, I like dealing with the diversity of topics, places, materials, problems and possibilities.

Sometimes I was irritated by people asking me about my profession. In general people like to name things – architect or artist? Today it does not bother me anymore. If people call me the architect, I am the architect. If they call me the artist, I am the artist. In the end I only want to work on my topics. There is no use for a name or definition.

What does your desk/working space look like?

For you personally, what is the essence of architecture?

Working on architecture means working in between. In between the great mass and the absolutely nothing. Darkest shadow and brightest light. The quality of the natural room lies in its originality. Room needs to be original to touch and to grab humans in their innermost depths. His impact must aim for the most original feelings, instincts and fears of humans. Consequently, he must be direct, extreme and uncompromising. Uncomfortable or exceedingly comfortable. But never solely comfortable. Harsh or velvet. Sky-high or overwhelmingly tight. From radiant shine or deepest shadow. He must grab the human and tumble him from one feeling to another.

Which material fascinates you?

Since I have been working on the book «weißes Rauschen», that contains texts about modern urban space and a photographic series about scaffolding tarps, I am interested in textiles. Therefore I used tarps for the installations «im Inneren leuchtet es schwarz» (2018) and «Weiß im Grün» (2019), that dealed with the theoretical content of the book. There will be one more installation in this series and it will contain tarp as well. After this last work, the series is completed and I will work on new projects with new materials. That does not mean, that I will not be interested in textiles anymore. But to me, working on topics/projects, also means working on materials. Every project has one primary material. 

Building: La Zisa, Palermo

How do you communicate your work?

My homepage and instagram are digital collections of my work. But I prefer presenting my work by doing exhibitions or installations. I want to confront the people with my content immediately and get their spontaneous and honest reactions. I want the people to argue with me and each other.
No great architecture or art ever exists through a display.

What has to change in the field of Architecture? How do you imagine the future?

I am tired of the current architectural discussion. Architects talking to architects about architecture. Do spiteful critics or glorifying hymns. Sometimes in reallife, sometimes in printed magazines, but most of the time online. Out of 82 million people living in Germany, there are about 135.000 architects. That means, 0,16 % of the German inhabitants are sitting at their laptops in some kind of digital elitist groups, discussing about one of the most important things of mankind – architecture, the human habitat. And nobody cares, because nobody is involved.

The Internet could have been a tool, to involve non-architects to the discussion. But in the end it feels like it is all about making instagrammable images or likable stuff. I think this discussion has to take place in real life and it is necessary, to open it to people who are not involved with architecture.
Above all we need to give the people a new awareness for architectural aesthetics and open their mind to the poetry of space.

What is your approach on teaching architecture? What do you want to pass on? 

Teaching is not only about passing on things. It is also about interaction. That is the part, I am interested in. Whenever I have the possibility, I create work tasks that work on topics I am interested in. So that I have the possibility to learn from the students.

Installation

Weiß im Grün
Le Capanne
2019

20m × 16m × 3m
steel, white scaffold net 

Installation

Im Inneren leuchtet es schwarz
Oper Köln
2018

3m × 3m × 7m
wood, steel scaffold, white scaffold tarp 

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