Miranda Devita Kistler

Miranda Devita Kistler was born in 1999 in Switzerland and is of Swiss/Indonesian descent. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in photography from the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. Kistler’s artistic journey is rooted in a belief that true comprehension arises through sensory and emotional engagement. Her work, inspired by awe, explores more-than-human landscapes and ecological perspectives, aiming to evoke wonder and ambiguity. She emphasizes craftsmanship and materiality, using her skills to foster profound connections with the environment. Kistler has exhibited her work internationally, and her projects often take shape through immersive publications that blend visual and conceptual elements.

For Best of Graduates 2024, Miranda presents Batu dan Banjir (of stone and flood). Kistler’s work explores the themes of erosion, both literal and metaphorical, capturing the interconnectedness of nature and human experiences. Through mixed media installations, including diverse stones from the Rhine River and knitted tapestries, Kistler evokes a sense of wonder and ambiguity, encouraging viewers to see overlooked details and fostering new connections with the environment.

In Batu dan Banjir, she juxtaposes archival images of her grandmother in flood-prone Indonesia with contemporary observations of the Rhine River, from its origin in Switzerland to its delta in the Netherlands. This contrast highlights the ongoing transformation and erosion of stones and sediments, mirroring the impermanence and displacement inherent in both natural and human contexts. The work features two handcrafted art books: Batu, a risograph-printed book depicting the Rhine’s landscapes, and Banjir, showcasing archival images with cellophane inserts of microscopic water samples.