Background
Manchot first came to prominence in the midto late nineties for an early series of portraits taken entirely of her mother who she photographed naked both in the studio and against a variety of cityand landscapes.
Manchot first came to prominence in the midto late nineties for an early series of portraits taken entirely of her mother who she photographed naked both in the studio and against a variety of cityand landscapes.
Born in Witten, Germany in 1966, Manchot studied in New York at New York University (1988-1989) before moving to London to continue her studies at City University and later at The Royal College of Artist
Her projects often explore specific sites and public spaces in order to locate notions of individual and collective identities. The work investigates particular gestures and forms of movement or activities that become the marker of a group or community. From 1992 until 2005 Manchot was a lecturer at various institutions including Goldsmiths College of Art, Central Street Martins, London College of Communication and Middlesex University.
When first exhibited the works received widespread attention and contributed to a growing debate around the representation of women, age and contested notions of body politics.
Since 2000 Manchot"s practice has increasingly incorporated film and video installation with the frame of reference expanding to include archive film, experimental film and cinematic history. Manchot’s methodology is based around participatory processes, often involving groups or communities and creating expanded portraits of people, both their individual and social selfs.
Manchot’s work has been widely exhibited in galleries, museums and film festivals internationally. Notable solo exhibitions include Celebration (Cyprus Street), The Whitechapel Gallery, London (2010).
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, Oregon.
Moscow Girls und Andere Geschichten, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin (2006), Melanie Manchot, Cornerhouse, Manchester (2002) and Stories from Russia, The Photographers" Gallery, London (2005). Manchot has also exhibited extensively in group shows around the world at institutes such as MOTinternational, London. Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Artist
Moscow Museum of Modern Artist
Istanbul Biennal (2009) and the New Forest Pavilion, 52nd International Art Exhibition - Louisiana Biennale Di Venezia (2007). Manchot is represented by Galerie m Bochum in Germany and is a trustee of The Photographers" Gallery, London.
She is also on the editorial board of numerous art journals.