Janaina Tschape

Jenaina Tschäpe is a Brazilian-born, Berlin-based contemporary artist known for her multidisciplinary approach, which blends painting, photography, video, and installation. Born in 1973 in São Paulo, Tschäpe has gained international recognition for her work that explores themes of identity, nature, and the human condition, often using the body and its interaction with natural environments as central motifs.

Tschäpe’s work frequently incorporates surreal, dreamlike imagery, where organic forms, fluid landscapes, and vibrant colors evoke both the beauty and fragility of the natural world. She often draws inspiration from biological and ecological systems, exploring how human beings are connected to and sometimes disconnected from their environments. Her art is marked by a fascination with transformation, growth, and decay, as well as an ongoing dialogue between the inner and outer worlds.

One of her signature techniques involves the use of water as both a literal and metaphorical medium, capturing the fluidity of identity and emotion. In her well-known series Watercolor, she combines abstract forms with detailed organic imagery, while her photographic and video works often delve into the notions of metamorphosis, movement, and the ephemeral nature of life.

Tschäpe has exhibited widely in prestigious institutions around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Kunsthalle in Berlin. Her work has been featured in major biennales and art fairs, cementing her place in the contemporary art world as a boundary-pushing artist with a deep sensitivity to both the human psyche and the natural world.