As an artist, I am conceiving and directing transdisciplinary collaborative long-term projects with other artists and also with cultural and educational institutions, that focus on contemporary fine art, visual studies, social inclusion and artistic research. Drawing as an artistic medium is my tool for research, conception and design.

In various collaborative settings it is my aim to develop experimental learning methods and new qualification approaches as well as to enable cross-generational and cross-social exchanges in public space. I also initiate comprehensive networks through which various institutions, such as schools, colleges, art and institutions and social facilities, can meet and work together – as a way of reflecting on shifting and shaping through dialogue.

Exhibitions, presentations, installations and publications as well as lectures, workshops and seminars form the results.

“Use the attacker’s horse for your own ride.” Franz Kafka once wrote this note in his diary 1922. For me, this is a central strategy with which I keep trying to pursue my goals.

1983-1986
Study of Comparative Literary, Philosophy and Slavistics at the Free University of Berlin1987 to 1988
Foundation studies / figure drawing at the Art Academy of Berlin (University of the Arts) drawing and painting

1989-1994
Study of Fine Art at the Art Academy of Berlin, graduating 10th semester graduate exam, tutor at Interflugs (self-organized student organization at the UdK Berlin) and in the university library

1995
Master’s pupil (German: Meisterschüler) with class Sieverding

1994-1997
Postgraduate PhD scholarship Nafög

Since 1999
Working as a freelance artist

Since 2007
Designing and directing long-term artistic research projects

Since 2008
Teaching at universities and academies (ESMOD international art academy Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts, Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle, Stiftung Universität Hildesheim, weissensee kunsthochschule berlin): seminars, lectures and colloquia

2011- 2015
Cultural agent in the model program Cultural agents for creative Schools, sponsored by the Federal Cultural Foundation, the Mercator Foundation, the German Children’s and Youth Foundation and the Berlin Senate

Since 2012
Lecturer at the weissensee kunsthochschule berlin for interdisciplinary projects (theory and practice) in the field of art and culture mediation and artistic research

Since 2015
Honorary professor at the weissensee kunsthochschule berlin, Department of Theory and History / Art Education

Scholarships & Awards

2010
Cultura Socialis Bolzano, Italy. Nominated with the project Suonare la propria musica nel mondo

2008 – 2010
First Grant for the mediation of art practices in conjunction with own art projects, neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst nGbK, Berlin for the Art Project mixing: possible

2004-2005
Artist Award Goldrausch Art IT

1999
Work stipend of Berlin Senate

1999
Cultural exchange stipend of the federal state of Berlin – Visual arts: Istanbul for the project Renkler, Sesler, Yüzler about special aspects of color perception of the inhabitants of the city of Istanbul, in collaboration with the Goethe Institute of Istanbul, the Mimar Sinan University und BM Contemporary Art Center

1997
DAAD travel stipend Québec/Canada and New York, for the film project Landscapes, on the processes of seeing/perceiving and transitioning

1995-97
Qualification scholarship for postgraduates NaFöG for the Filmprojekt Lichtreisen, to investigate relationships between Alzheimer’s disease and current social developments

1994
Art Award of the city of Groß-Gerau, Germany for experimente, a project on the relationship between science and ethics

Mona Jas lives and works in Berlin.