HELGA ELSNER TORRES
(Peru, 1989)
Visual artist. She lives and works between Peru and Berlin.
Since 2009, continuous artistic practice: exhibitions, art projects in Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Austria, Peru and USA.
She graduated in Painting and Visual Arts (BA) at the Universidad Católica del Perú and at the Institute for Art in Context (MA) at the Berlin University of the Arts. Helga develops social art projects in Lima and the Amazon rainforest, as well as in Germany in connection with associations, projects, schools, museums and with other artists.
EDUCATION
2016- 2020
Universität der Künste Berlin
Master "Kunst im Kontext"
2016
Universität Bielefeld
Master "Interamerikanische Studien"
2015
Guest auditor at Universität der Künste Berlin
Master "Kunst im Kontext"
2014
Berlin Career College Universität der Künste, Berlin
2008-2013
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS WITH MAJOR IN PAINTING
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima
GRANTS
2024
Residência Artística FAAP. São Paulo, Brazil.
2022
Scholarship holder of the Visual Arts Research Grant of the Senate Department for Culture and Europe
Funding from the Department of Art and Culture of the Pankow District Office
2021
"Förderung zeitgeschichtlicher und erinnerungskultureller Projekte" von der Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa (Senate Department for Culture and Europe)
2019
DAAD scholarship from the German Federal Foreign Office.
"Grant for successful completion of studies" studierenWERK BERLIN.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
"Identities in Transit"
Projektraum Bardo, Berlin
2022
"Germanness abroad: German-South Americans in Berlin: coming to terms with a colonial family past". State libraries of Pankow, Berlin.
2021
“Wo kommst du (wirklich) her?”/ "Where do you (really) come from?". Curated by Helena Herzberg (PSM Gallery). KulturmarktHalle e.V. Berlin, Germany
2017
“Mein Weg bis hierher”. Universität der Künste Berlin
2014
“En las Nubes” Arábica Galery. Lima, Peru
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2024
Open Studios, Residência Artística FAAP. São Paulo, Brazil.
Enfoques. Galería WU. Lima, Peru.
CONEXIONES. Galería del Parque de la Amistad. Lima, Peru.
LABO*R AN INVITATION TO ACTION… A BASIS FOR HOPE. Savvy Contemporary, Berlin
Festival 48-Stunden-Neukölln. Studio KM35, Berlin
2019
"Arte de Mujer. El Despertar del Cuerpo". Embassy of Peru, Berlin.
2017
"Land(e)scape" in HBK Galerie, Saarbrücken
2016
Performance “El Puma Negro”, Krumme Lanke, Berlin.
Performance “Cuninico”. Petroperú. Lima, Peru.
“Peruvian Painting Salon”. Latino Art Museum, California, USA
Festival 48-Stunden-Neukölln (with Survival International NGO). Berlin
“Peruvian Contemporary Painting” Agua Fuerte Galerie. Mexico DF.
“The Wrong” Digital Art Biennale. Lima.
“Female Painters”. Cultural Center of “San Marcos” University. Lima, Perú.
“Visionen mit Luft und Licht”. Collaboration with a Videofilm in Tomás Saracenos Exhibition. 21er Haus Museum, Vienna, Austria.
2014
Aerosolar Museum. Collaboration
“DEVELOPMENT & CLIMATE DAYS” United Nations Climate Change Conference. 20th Session. Lima.
Exhibition “Art”
Lima Cricket & Football Club. Lima, Peru.
2013- 2008
Exhibition of the Faculty of Arts. Catholic University. Lima, Perú
2012
“Universo Denso” Exhibition. Lima, Peru.
2011
“GRABADO: ESPACIOS LIBERADOS”
ICPNA Galerie (Peruvian-Northamerican Culture Institut), Lima
“GRAVURA: ESPAÇOS LIBERADOS” Museum Olho. Latino. Sao Paulo, Brazil
LECTURES/ PRESENTATIONS
2019
“Critical research on the collectors of the Peruvian collection in Humboldt Forum” during transmediale. Haus der Kulturen der Welt.
“Kultureller Austausch und Heimat – Was Künste zu Identitäten beitragen.“ Berliner Akademie e.V.
“Mein Weg bis hierher“. Bettina-von-Arnim Bibliothek.
“Mein Weg bis hierher“. Stadtteilbibliothek Buch.
PUBLICATIONS
2022
"Germanness abroad: German-South Americans in Berlin: coming to terms with a colonial family past"
2021
Wo kommst du (wirklich) her?/ Where do you (really) come from?"
Project catalog
2018
“Mein Weg bis hierher”, Editorial Universität der Künste Berlin. ISBN 978-9-89462-301-2.
FILMS (direction)
2019+
Tace, ora et labora (Short Film). Starring Michael Baderschneider, Patrick Güldenberg, Julian Trostorf, Anna Heidegger and Malte Yamamoto.
EDUCATION
2017-2020
University of Art in Berlin
Master "Art in Context"
2016
Bielefeld University
Master "Inter-American Studies"
2015
Guest auditor at Berlin University of the Arts
Master "Art in Context"
2014
Berlin Career College University of the Arts, Berlin
2008-2013
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS WITH MAJOR IN PAINTING
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Lima
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
“Germanness abroad – German South Americans in Berlin: Coming to terms with a colonial family past”
2021
“Where are you (really) from?” KulturmarktHalle e.V. Berlin, Germany
2017
“My way to here”. University of Art in Berlin
2014
“En las Nubes” Arabica Gallery. Lima, Peru
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2019
"Arte de Mujer. El Despertar del Cuerpo". Embassy of Peru, Berlin.
2017
"Land(e)scape" in HBK Gallery, Saarbrücken
2016
Performance “El Puma Negro”, Krumme Lanke, Berlin.
Performance “Cuninico”. Petroperu. Lima, Peru.
“Peruvian Painting Salon”. Latino Art Museum, California, USA
Festival 48 Hours Neukölln (with Survival International NGO). Berlin
“Peruvian Contemporary Painting” Agua Fuerte Gallery. Mexico DF.
“The Wrong” Digital Art Biennale. Lima.
“Female Painters”. Cultural Center of “San Marcos” University. Lima, Peru.
“Visions with air and light”. Collaboration with a video film in Tomás Saracenos Exhibition. 21er Haus Museum, Vienna, Austria.
2014
Aerosolar Museum. Collaboration
“DEVELOPMENT & CLIMATE DAYS” United Nations Climate Change Conference. 20th session. Lima.
Exhibition “Art”
Lima Cricket & Football Club. Lima, Peru.
2013-2008
Exhibition of the Faculty of Arts. Catholic University. Lima, Peru
2012
“Universo Denso” Exhibition. Lima, Peru.
2011
“GRABADO: ESPACIOS LIBERADOS”
ICPNA Gallery (Peruvian-Northamerican Culture Institute), Lima
“GRAVURA: ESPAÇOS LIBERADOS” Museum Olho. Latino. Sao Paulo, Brazil
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS
2019
“Critical research on the collectors of the Peruvian collection in Humboldt Forum” during transmediale. House of World Cultures.
“Cultural exchange and homeland – what arts contribute to identities.” Berliner Akademie e.V.
“My path to here”. Bettina von Arnim Library.
“My path to here”. District library book.
PUBLICATIONS
2022
“Germanness abroad – German South Americans in Berlin: Coming to terms with a colonial family past”
2021
Where are you (really) from? Exhibition catalogue
Can be borrowed from VÖBB (call number B 215 Elsn)
2018
“My path to this point”, Editorial University of the Arts Berlin. ISBN 978-9-89462-301-2.
FILMS (director)
2019-2020
Tace, ora et labora. Starring Michael Baderschneider, Patrick Güldenberg, Julian Trostorf, Anna Heidegger and Malte Yamamoto.
GRANTS/ SCHOLARSHIPS
2022
Scholarship holder of the visual arts research scholarship of the Senate Department for Culture and Europe
Funding from the Art and Culture Department of the Pankow District Office
2021
“Promotion of contemporary history and commemorative cultural projects” from the Senate Department for Culture and Europe (Senate Department for Culture and Europe)
2019
DAAD scholarship from the German Federal Foreign Office.
"Grant for successful completion of studies" to studyWERK BERLIN.