July and August residents – Carolin Schelkle and Nazare Soares

Carolin Schelkle is a Designer and Material Researcher from Lake Constance, Germany, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Product and Communication Design from the Free University of Bolzano, Italy and a Master of Product Design from écal (Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne), Switzerland.

Her work is led by exploring the life of products and raw materials and is driven by curiosity, field studies and cross-disciplinary research. The investigations cover a broad range of typologies, including materials, processes, products, spaces and exhibitions, materialized through extensive experimenting, sampling and prototyping. The research results either in the record of a process itself or in a commercial product, encouraging a deeper understanding of the materials, products and environments that surround us. 

During the past view years she dedicated a significant part of her research to local sheep wool, exploring different ways of processing and applications in various contexts in order to re-valorise the abandoned fibres. 

Nazaré Soares’ work is rooted in hydrofeminisms and deep ecologies. It interweaves relational practices, psychoacoustic and cinematic spaces, performance art and hydrotherapies, producing spaces for ritual and incubation. Soares facilitates incubations in water and Phyto-thermal bathing, that gently influence the thermal properties of cell clusters. She founded the art platform Invisibledrum based in Norway. Her work has been exhibited at the Art & Science Museum of Singapore, Palais des Congrès of Montréal, Metamorf Art & Technology Biennale, Museum of Contemporary Art of Ethiopia, Brighton Museum, Fabrica in Brighton, Indian Habitat Centre, Trondheim Kunstmuseum, Centro Botín, Sonar Music & Technology Festival, Kunsthall Trondheim & Varanger Museum among others.

During the residency at Verpejos, Nazaré is focusing on the notions of inter-zone and borderlands wandering. She is meeting the bodies of water of the regions and researching hollow tree beekeeping traditions. She utilises linen and wool, known for its highest healing frequency among fabrics, to establish connections with the land, its memory, and the art of wrapping in both ground and aquatic body work practices. Additionally, she is crafting ritualistic sound instruments and water combs from local wood. 

Carolin Schelkle and Nazare Soares residency is funded by Culture Moves Europe.