MATERNAL FANTASIES is an interdisciplinary group of international artists and cultural producers based in Berlin. They shape the discourse on motherhood through collective artistic processes while enhancing the visibility of contemporary feminist positions addressing motherhood(s) in the arts. From writing autobiographical responses to classic feminist texts to devising performances using children’s games, their art practice favours inclusive community-oriented experiments as alternatives to traditional structures of art production. Bridging theory and practice, their strategy transforms research on motherhood(s), care work and representation in the arts into frameworks for immersive modes of critique.
MATERNAL FANTASIES are Aino El Solh, Hanne Klaas, Isabell Spengler, Lena Chen, Magdalena Kallenberger, Maicyra Leao, Mikala Hyldig Dal.
MATERNAL FANTASIES are recipients of the Artist Advancement Award 2019/20 of the Arthur Boskamp-Stiftung. In 2023 they received the IMPACT funding, from Berlin Senate, intended to promote the development of diversity in Berlin's independent arts scene.
Conversation // The Feminist Wave // Re-Assembling Motherhood(s) & Body-Mind expression Via Music // Juliana Laguna Bosch in conversation with Magdalena Kallenberger (MATERNAL FANTASIES) @thewave.eindhoven.
THE FEMINIST VIENNESE COFFEE HOUSE by Barbara Philipp #13 episode in conversation with Magdalena Kallenberger on behalf of MATERNAL FANTASIES
WE CARE! - DER FEMINISTISCHE TAZ PODCAST // Visionen einer fürsorglichen Gesellschaft // Die fünfte Folge ist eine Sonderfolge und Live-Aufnahme der Podiumsdiskussion “Visionen einer fürsorglichen Gesellschaft. Moderiert von Sarah Ulrich sprechen Yildiz Akgün, Valentina Karga, Magdalena Kallenberger und Johanna Fröhlich Zapata über feministische Utopien, konkrete Handlungsmöglichkeiten, Schwierigkeiten der Fürsorge-Praxis und darüber, welche Schritte uns zu einer fürsorglichen Gesellschaft führen können.
OPENING UP/ CLOSING IN Rogaland Kunstsenter with Linnea Langfjord Kristensen, Sidsel Christensen, Mustafa Boga and Lena Chen (MATERNAL FANTASIES)
A recording of the online discussion which took place on 18th March 2021, hosted by Ffotogallery. Presentations by Magdalena Kallenberger (MATERNAL FANTASIES) artist collective (Germany), Miriam O'Connor (Ireland) on women in farming, Tonje Bøe Birkeland (Norway) on her project The Characters, Kaunas Photo Gallery (Lithuania) on post-Soviet photography and women's work, Gallery of Photography (Ireland) and Ffotogallery (Wales) on the changing landscape of women's work in Europe, and the artist/curator duo Whack 'n' Bite (Finland). Also the launch of the A Woman's Work legacy publication and an opportunity to discuss the issues arising from this Creative Europe 2018 - 21 project.
Conversation 3: film and motherhood // by art/mamas Vancouver with Jules Koostachin, Nadine Valcine, Clare Yow, Preta Performance, Ghinwa Yassine, Isabell Spengler (MATERNAL FANTASIES)
Exhibition // Dear Mother, // LA Artcore // Organized by Kayla Tange & Caroline Yoo // 2022
Exhibition // Angst, Keine Angst | Chapter III: Potentialities–Growing Out of Damaged Ground // Times Art Center Berlin, Dorothee Albrecht //
more on MATERNAL FANTASIES:
Book Review // Re-Assembling Motherhood(s): On Radical Care and Collective Art as Feminist Practices // by Maxa Zoller // Art Monthly, No. 453, February 2022.
Review // Other Artists, von Marcia Breuer: MATERNAL FANTASIES // https://other-writers.de/2021/02/16/other-artists-maternal-fantasies/
Interview // Three Questions to MATERNAL FANTASIES by Dr. Katharina Koch // alpha nova galerie futura // https://www.galeriefutura.de/maternal-fantasies-love-and-labor-intimacy-and-isolation-care-and-survival-2020/
Artist talk // Dear Mother, Exhibition // On motherhood, motherland, and migration // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2URg_uLwXSE
Artist Talk // FANTASTIC FUTURES – Filme zu Fürsorge und Kollektivität. MATERNAL FANTASIES (Isabell Spengler, Maicyra Leão, Magdalena Kallenberger) im Gespräch mit Sascia Bailer (künstlerische Leitung M.1 Arthur Boskamp-Stiftung 2019/20) // https://vimeo.com/530269334
Statement zum NKN Tag // Isabell Spengler (MATERNAL FANTASIES) // https://vimeo.com/556614771