short vita

Roman Kroke, a former lawyer, works as an interdisciplinary artist throughout Europe, with a particular emphasis on socio-political topics linked to concepts of citizenship and societal values. Development, coordination and direction of exhibitions, workshops and lectures – in partnership with universities, schools, memorial sites, scientific institutes, prisons, museums, foundations and TV-productions.

His drawings are metaphorical transformations of historical, literary and scientific sources, through which he opens the topic up to a universal-philosophical discourse. Repeatedly interviews and illustrations for documentary movies shown on the European culture channel ARTE: » Die Mauern von Warschau 1943-44 « (2014), » Ich bin « (2012), » Der Konvoi « (2010). His current focus centers around the concepts of » sustainable development « and » complexity «, linked to big data and environmental pollution: Pacific Ocean crossing on board of the research vessel SONNE during which he will work as an artistic mediator for an international team of scientists (May-July 2019); lecture at the international scientific conference MICRO 2018, Lanzarote/ESP (November 2018); exhibition at the international Festival » The Universal Sea – Pure or Plastic!? «, Budapest/HUN (October 2018). Art projects on the topic of » Exile and Migration « in cooperation with the National Museum of the History of Immigration (Paris), the Belgian association » Refugees Got Talent « (2016) and the high security prison Fleury-Mérogis (2015). Solo exhibitions for instance at the Palace of the Kings of Majorca (Perpignan/France, 2013) or at Ghent University/Belgium (permanent exhibition since 2013). Art residencies in Berlin (coordinated by the Zurich University of the Arts – Institute for Art Education/CH, 2015/2016), Aix-en-Provence (La Non-Maison/France, 2013) and Belarus (Bielski Family Foundation/Goethe Institute, 2010). About his pedagogical concepts Roman Kroke has been providing teacher trainings for the national ministries of education in Switzerland, France and Germany.

For the UdK Roman Kroke has developed, directed and coordinated several interdisciplinary seminars (selection):

• » Microplastic and Medusae – Expeditions into H₂O «; in partnership with the Technical University of Berlin (TU) and 13 scientific institutes (2017-2018).

INFO

EXHIBITION 

PUBLICATION 

• » Schienen in den Tod – Brücken in die Zukunft (1941-2016) «, in partnership with the Permanent Conference of the Directors of the NS Memorial Sites in the Berlin Area and the Deutsche Bahn (DB); lectures and exhibition as part of the official commemoration ceremony at the memorial site » Gleis 17 « (2016).

PRESS

PUBLICATION

Links

Roman Krokes Website

focus of work

• Art as a medium of interdisciplinary and intercultural communication
• Experimental storytelling
• Cultures of remembrance, sustainable development

publications

• KROKE, Roman (Ed.): Microplastics and Medusae – Expeditions into H₂O. Interdisciplinary pilot-project on the plastic pollution of aquatic environments by the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU). Verlag der Universität der Künste Berlin, May 2019.
• KROKE, Roman:  Microplastics and Chameleons – Expeditions into H₂O. In: The Universal Sea – Pure or Plastic!? The Art and Innovation Guide Against The Plastic Pollution. Stiftung für Entrepreneurship, Faltin Stiftung, Institute for Art and Innovation e.V., March 2019, p. 405-410.
• KROKE, Roman (Ed.): Schienen in den Tod – Brücken in die Zukunft (1941-2016). Interdisziplinäres Pilotprojekt zum Mahnmal Gleis 17. Verlag der Universität der Künste Berlin, 2016.
• KROKE, Roman (Ed.): Le Camp de Rivesaltes – Les ombres du vent. Atelier-pilote en coopération avec le Lycée Aristide Maillol et le Collège Marcel Pagnol à partir du « Journal de Rivesaltes 1941-1942 » de Friedel Bohny-Reiter. MEDIEL, 2016.
• KROKE, Roman (Ed.): Die Spinne und ihr Netz – Einblicke in das denkende Herz der holländischen Jüdin Etty Hillesum (1914-1943) – kommentierte Illustrationen zu ihrem Tagebuch von Roman Kroke. MEDIEL, 2012.
• KROKE, Roman (Ed.): The Spider and its Web – insights into the thinking heart of the Dutch Jew Etty Hillesum (1914-1943) – annotated illustrations to her diary by Roman Kroke. MEDIEL, 2012.
• KROKE, Roman (Ed.): L’araignée et sa toile — regards sur le cœur pensant d’Etty Hillesum, Juive néerlandaise (1914-1943) – illustrations d’extraits choisis de son journal intime par Roman Kroke. MEDIEL, 2012.