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The extraordinary pictorial worlds of Lisl Ponger

Lisl Ponger's "Danse Macabre"(Bild: Lisl Ponger)

Photos and videos are her world. Lisl Ponger is one of the most prominent figures on the Austrian film scene. For this reason, the Diagonale film festival is dedicating one of the new "Positions" to her this year - and the Graz-based Freie Atelierhaus Schaumbad is dedicating a personal exhibition to her. 

Lisl Ponger's ambition is no less than to break with stereotypical views - especially when it comes to images of women or the definition of foreignness. She has been making films since the 1970s, back then still in the grainy Super 8 aesthetic, which took a militant stance against these perspectives. Nothing has changed to this day. Migration, colonial entanglements and the undermining of entrenched images of history still play a major role in her artistic work.

Four programs and one exhibition
The Diagonale is dedicating a "Position" to Lisl Ponger and is not only showing three programs with her films on Friday (5 pm, Schubertkino; 8.30 pm KIZ-Royal) and Saturday (11 am, Schubertkino), but has also given her carte blanche to put together a program on Sunday at 5 pm in the Schubertkino.

Diagonale "Position" with a total of four programs: Lisl Ponger(Bild: ELSA OKAZAKI)

The exhibition "Storylines" can be seen at the Freie Atelierhaus Schaumbad until April 19. In new photo prints and short videos, in which she stages the ambivalent figure of the "trickster", she negotiates her themes. And gives wonderfully subtle instructions for protest. Camouflage and deception as well as the formation of communities are high on her agenda.

On Sunday, April 7, an artist brunch will be held as part of the exhibition at 12 noon, during which Anna Voswinckel from Camera Austria will interview Lisl Ponger about her work.