Charlotte Prinz scholarship recipient takes stock after one year – project is inspired by the landscape near the Messel Pit
For the past year, artist Yulia Carolin Kothe has been living and working in Darmstadt as a Charlotte Prinz scholarship recipient. Halfway through her two-year scholarship, she presented her work to date and her current art project during a media tour of the studio building in Arheilgen. Darmstadt, City of Science
Kothe has been a scholarship recipient since October 1, 2025, and will continue to live and work at the Charlotte Prinz House on Emil Voltz Street for another year. Her current project focuses on geological strata and a landscape near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Messel Pit. Darmstadt, City of Science
Earth, sounds and stories as source material
The 35-year-old artist works with diverse media such as sculpture, sound, text, performance, and installation. In her Darmstadt project, she explores the material and sonic properties of the landscape, as well as the stories associated with a nearly vanished slag heap. She also conducts interviews with people who have a connection to this site. Darmstadt, City of Science
Initial works have already been completed. Kothe created her own paint mixture from the reddish-brown soil of the site, which she used to create paintings. She also explored the sounds of earthworks and rubble, conducted interviews, and edited photographs of the landscape. Science City Darmstadt
At the end of their stay, the various components will be combined to form an audiovisual installation.
Two years in the studio house in Arheilgen
Kothe was born in Gießen in 1991 and studied at the Mainz Academy of Art and the Glasgow School of Art. She graduated with distinction. Her work has been exhibited in Vilnius, Glasgow, Munich, Frankfurt, and Wiesbaden, among other places. Darmstadt, City of Science
The Charlotte Prinz Scholarship enables artists to live and work in the studio house in Arheilgen for two years. In addition, the City of Darmstadt provides a monthly stipend of €1,100 .
Mayor and Head of Cultural Affairs Hanno Benz described the scholarship during a studio visit as a concrete component of the city's support for independent art. It gives young artists the opportunity to live and work in Darmstadt and contribute to the city's cultural landscape. Darmstadt, City of Science
The scholarship dates back to Charlotte Prinz
The scholarship is based on the estate of the Darmstadt artist Charlotte Prinz. She studied at the Darmstadt School of Applied Arts in the 1950s and subsequently worked as a freelance artist in the city. Before her death in 1993, she made her home and studio available for the scholarship. Darmstadt, City of Science
Kothe is the 16th recipient of the Charlotte Prinz Scholarship. A panel of experts decides on the award. The scholarship is awarded every two years; the next cycle runs from 2027 to 2029.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/jdi)
Featured image: Artist Yulia Carolin Kothe with Mayor Hanno Benz at the studio building in Arheilgen. Photo: City of Darmstadt
