State of Mind

In my work, I explore the intersections of visual culture, technology, and memory. Using photography, video, and digital media, I trace how images travel through time and across cultures, questioning their shifting meanings in an increasingly digitalized world.

I often recontextualize archival material to challenge traditional narratives and open up new possibilities for representation. By examining historical archives such as the New York Public Library Picture Collection, I investigate power dynamics, gender roles, and stereotypes in both historical and contemporary contexts. Through the integration of digital technologies – such as AI platforms, apps, or social media – I aim to create works that blur the boundaries between past and present, between analog and digital.

I seek to inspire reflection and discussion about how images shape our understanding of identity, history, and gender dynamics. My goal is to make historical and contemporary image cultures accessible and relevant, fostering a dialogue that connects the past with current issues and encourages reflection on societal norms.

“In this global context of visuality, Tamara Janes is fascinated by the possibleways to perceive, challenge and alter the (post-)modern visual environment. With a unique blend of institutional and popular sources, her work humorously questions our compulsive daily relationship with images. To do this, she burrowed into lengthy artistic research, taking on the role of an ‘imagineer’ – a combination of the words image, imagination and engineer – because she questions, (re)constructs and (re)invents theimages she finds or creates.” – from the exhibition text “Set and Setting” at Photo Elysée, curated by Lars Willumeit

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or write me a postcard –
Tamara Janes
Progr Atelier 205
Waisenhausplatz 30
3011 Bern

hoi@tamarajanes.ch

Network:
represented by Boccanera Gallery Trento/Milan
futures-photography.com
Visarte

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Attila is a member of 13Photo

Impressum:
supported by Lorenzo and Lorenzo
made with Lay Theme

Education

2017
Master in Fine Arts, Institute of Art Gender Nature (IAGN), HGK, Basel

2014
Bachelor Diploma with distinction in Photography,
Department of Art & Media, Zurich University of the Arts, ZHdK

2013
SVA School of Visual Arts, New York, US

2001
Visual Communication studies, Graphic Designer EFZ, SfG St. Gallen

2000
Visual Communication, Ohio State University, Columbus, US

Awards and grants

2023
Swiss Design Awards, Laureate in Photography
Artist at Futures Photography, nominated by Photo Elysée

2022
Double-Mentoring with Lars Willumeit, Migros Kulturprozent

2021
Förderakzent Continuer by the Canton Bern

2020
Finalist, Aeschlimann Corti Fellowship of the Bern Art Society

2019
Work grant by the Canton St. Gallen, “The New York Public Library Picture Collection”
Finalist, Aeschlimann Corti Fellowship of the Bern Art Society

2018
Residency grant of the city of Bern, New York
Finalist, Shizuko Yoshikawa Advancement Award for Young Women
Finalist, Aeschlimann Corti Fellowship of the Bern Art Society

2016
Grant Werkbuch/OEvre d’Artiste by Canton of Bern, Book

2014
1st prize, 18th vfg Young Talent Award
Bachelor diploma with distinction

2013
Unseen Dummy Award, Amsterdam

Solo exhibition

2024
“Set and Setting” Photo Elysée, Platform10, Lausanne, curated by Lars Willlumeit

2022
#artintheheart, Vitrine, curated by Katrin Sperry, Bern

2021
“Super Zoom”, summer studio and exhibition, Shed im Eisenwerk, Frauenfeld

2017
“Save The Poor Image”, AE_selection-Project, Boccanera Project Room, Trento, Italy

2015
“Espace Libre with Google Reverse Image Search”, Bieler Fototage, Espace Libre, Biel/Bienne
“Digital Mirror” art@work with Google Reverse Image Search, Zurich/Berne

Group show

2024
Heimspiel, Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, 14.12.2024-2.2.2025
L'Appartement – Espace Images Vevey

2023
Funny Snow Face, with Natalia Funariu, Cantonale Berne Jura, Musée jurassien des Arts, Moutier
#viecher, Grosse Regionale, #altefabrik, Rapperswil-Jona
Copyright Swap, Swiss Design Awards, Basel
Imagine Utopia, with Annelies Štrba & Yvonne Robert, Nomadic Art Space, Olten

2022
Erlkönig Protokoll, with Linus Lutz, AUTO, St. Gallen
#nofilter, Hiltibold, St. Gallen
Cantonale Berne Jura, Kunsthaus Pasquart, Biel/Bienne

2021
Heimspiel, Kunsthaus Glarus
Jenseits, Kulturraum S4 im Stellwerk Heerbrugg
Wind of Change, Kloster Dornach
Cantonale Berne Jura, Kunsthaus Langenthal & Kunsthaus Pasquart, Biel/Bienne

2019
Cantonale Berne Jura, Kunsthaus Langenthal
Aeschlimann Corti Fellowship of the Bernese Art Society, Thun Art Museum
Cave Canem, Boccanera Gallery, Trento, Italien

2018
Last Open Studio, with Jared Deery and Camilla Ha, Red House, New York
Cantonale Berne Jura, Kunsthaus Pasquart, Biel/Bienne
Aeschlimann Corti Fellowship of the Bern Art Society, Kunsthaus Langenthal

2017
Silicon Is a Grey Crystal, Regionale 18, House of Electronic Arts, Basel
Halbschlaf, Book launch Werkbuch/OEvre d'Artiste, Stadtgalerie Bern
We Invite You to Hope, Kunsthaus Baselland, Diploma Exhibition Institute of Art Gender Nature (IAGN)
Argument Place, Stadtgalerie Bern
Cantonale Berne Jura, Musée Jurassien des Arts, Moutier

2016
Throwing Balls in the Air, Academiae – Youth Art Biennale, Franzensfeste, South Tyrol, Italy
#me Ego Reloaded, Kunstraum Nextex, St. Gallen
C'est fini l’ironie” Masterclass 15, Institute of Art Gender Nature, Carrosserie, Basel
Cantonale Berne Jura, Kunsthaus Langenthal & Kunsthaus Pasquart, Biel/Bienne

2015
Plat(t)form 15, Portfolio View, Fotomuseum, Winterthur
Heimspiel, Kunstraum Engländerbau,Vaduz

2014
8th vfg Young Talent Award, Zurich/Lausanne/Basel/Stuttgart
Fotogravielfalt, Photobastei, Zurich

Public collection

Poor Image #01 & Les Horribles Cernettes, Photographic Collection Museum Folkwang, Essen
Poor Image Noise Series, Art Collection Canton St. Gallen

Art in architecture

2023
Poor Image Sungaze, Residential and Care Center Mörschwil

Teaching

2019 -
Lecturer at the photography class, F+F School of Art and Design, Zurich

Picture Consequences, spring workshop, ECAL Lausanne
Poor Image, workshop, PHBern
Poor Image, workshop, Photoforum Pasquart, Biel/Bienne
Poor Image, workshop, with Helena Schmidt, HKB Art Education, Bern

Publication

2022
The Super Zoom Edition, publication for the exhibition, 72 unique publications

2017
Halbschlaf, Kehrer Verlag, Werkbuch/OEvre d’Artiste Canton Bern

2016
Jeff Koons read by Tamara Janes, zine for the book fair I Never Read, edition of 10

2015
Espace Libre with Google Reverse Image Search, folding poster, edition of 4000
Conservation No.2, Still Loading, 6 books
Conservation No.1, eBay Masks, book, unique
Google oracle, art@work #10, book, edition of 6

2014
Room 209 with Google Reverse Image Search, book publication, unique