Andrea Büttner discusses her exhibition at MK Gallery, and artistic practice with curator Ben Borthwick. The exhibition presented a "major survey of recent and new work by Andrea... (b. Stuttgart, Germany, 1972), including video, sculpture, reverse glass painting and woodcuts. Büttner studied art history and philosophy and art, and completed a doctorate on the subject of shame and art in 2010. The broad range of work... include(d) an interview with nuns discussing happiness and spirituality; an inventory of symbols such as a veiled figure, a donkey and a beggar; an ensemble of tables that evoke refectories, canteens and soup kitchens; and portraits of youths scrutinising some art. Running throughout such disparate techniques and subjects are a number of red threads: representations of hunger and poverty across art history from Ernst Barlach to Vincent Van Gogh; an interest in materials and textiles from nuns’ habits to backrests and tents; and a grid-like motif that evokes institutional models and modernist design. All of these substantial themes carry a variety of personal, historical and symbolic associations presented from numerous different perspectives. The exhibition was accompanied by the artist’s first monograph, produced in collaboration with MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt with support from the Andrea Büttner Exhibition Circle of Friends, including Shane Akeroyd, Elisabetta Buonaiuto, André Gordts, Phillip Keir, Valeria and Gregorio Napoleone, Barry Rosen, Federico Santilli, Bina von Stauffenberg and those who wish to remain anonymous." (taken from MK Gallery website). Ben Borthwick is an independent curator and writer. He was previously Director of Artes Mundi, the international exhibition and art prize at National Museum Wales. While Assistant Curator at Tate Modern he curated exhibitions by Gilbert & George, Rosa Barba and others. He was on the selection panels for both Wales in Venice and the British Pavilion for the 2013 Venice Biennale.