each individual text with the care and attention it deserves. For a clearer picture of what this entails, check out some of my previous
A labyrinth. In the middle of the empty, artificial-lawn-covered church floor stands a firepit containing 10,000 pearls. Outside is a walled garden. Simple as they seem, the individual constituents of the artist Birthe Blauth’s Poem of Pearls carry layer upon layer of meaning.
For me as an art translator, getting to grips with the German catalogue texts meant engaging with different systems of understanding. The objects were interpreted through various lenses: sociology, art history, mythology, iconography, Christianity, pre- and non-Christianity, the medieval mind and, not least, the present day. By crystallising these perspectives in my mind, I was able to weave them together to create coherent and meaningful English translations.
I first had the privilege of translating exhibition, magazine and blog texts for KÖNIG Galerie in 2018 and love the challenges of translating the multiple layers of interpretive texts such as these.
First comes the artist, who translates their reality and experience into a visual work of art. Next comes the critic/essayist, who translates the work, or their experience of it, into words. And then there’s the art translator, who works through both previous levels of translation to grasp the experiences and intentions of artist and writer and create a text that does justice to both.
Photos: KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin
I first translated for SLEEK magazine in 2018, creating entertaining yet informative English texts for a wide readership.
To familiarise myself with the artists, film makers, musicians being interviewed and the works discussed, I read relevant English texts about them online and explore their art directly. YouTube videos are also helpful for developing a feel for the person I am writing about.
Photos: SLEEK Magazine, H&B Publishing, Berlin
In 2016 I translated the introduction and artists’ profiles for the website of one of largest private collections of Latin American art: Daros Latinamerica.
For me as an art translator, text (Lat.: texere, ‘to weave’) and context (Lat.: con+texere, ‘to weave together’) are inseparable. Because collectively, they give rise to understanding. With this project, I began by learning more about the artists and the history and cultures of South America. This gave me a fuller understanding of their works and frames of reference, which in turn gave me the grounding to produce highly readable English translations.
In 2017 I translated the brochure on lichtweiß by Karl-Heinz Einberger & Valentin Godebauer, a white, sculpted artwork whose clear lines and surfaces create a subtle play of light in the newly designed visitors’ access tunnel of Regensburg Prison. The translation project was purely descriptive, the style of the text seeming almost to echo the clarity of the work.
The implications for me as an art translator were twofold: first, spatial intelligence was required to imagine the artwork and setting based on the text and images. Second, every aspect of the work and its effects had to be understood to accurately render the details of the original text in English.
In 2014 I became involved in corporate art management. A Munich-based DAX-listed company had invited upcoming art students to submit proposals for works for permanent display on their plant premises in China. My task was to edit the rough Chinese-to-English translation of the artists’ profiles, CVs, personal statements and proposals to produce polished documentation.
This required the ability to grasp and collate the available information and renderings of artworks to provide a 360° view of the artists and their intentions. The resulting documentation provided the basis for the purchase of the artworks and for a book.
In 2019 I translated into English a book and website (since updated by the owners) by Ilonka Fries and Deva Premal in memory of their father, the artist Wolfgang Fries (1921-2005). Forgotten in the mists of time, Fries’s works range from four stained-glass windows depicting the evangelists for Nuremberg’s iconic Lorenzkirche to classic cookie tins for one of the city’s foremost Lebkuchen bakeries.
Underpinned by his children’s desire to share Fries’s life story and work, this translation project combined the warmth of personal memories with descriptive texts about his works and techniques. A fascinating homage to a forgotten artist, especially for fans of his home city, Nuremberg.
Since 2016 I have been translating product texts, newsletters, designers’ profiles and more for Schönbuch, a German manufacturer of high-quality furniture and accessories.
Translating these product texts requires an awareness of the different metaphors in English and German for describing colour and form. Also, to describe the products correctly, I often refer to photos and sketches to fully grasp both the look and features of items.
In 2017 I had the privilege of editing the English translation of a fascinating coffee-table book about the beginnings of graphic design in Germany.
My priority with this project was to edit the existing copy and make it as lively and engaging as possible. Adding lightness to a text takes a certain degree of confidence in handling the content. So even though I had the text in front of me, plenty of research was needed to make absolutely sure I had understood not just what was being said but the point of what was being said.
Photo: Callisto Publishing, Berlin
In 2022 I gave the English translation of a book by the Danish knitwear designer Laerke Bagger a thorough edit to match the language to the character of the author: creative, energetic, off-beat, unapologetic.
The result? Amazon reviews such as: “Ordered this book on the strength of Laerke’s Instagram posts, and it did not disappoint! Not only are the patterns refreshingly funky, but the whole book is a joy to read…,” or “I am blown away by how cool this book is… I will definitely read and re-read this again and again. Highly recommend.”
Photo: Prestel Publishing
I have been translating for the BMW Group for many years. My projects include in-house communications and press releases around milestones such as the company centenary and on topics ranging from social responsibility, sustainability, events and awards to social and cultural engagement.
As a translator, I realise my work plays an important part in representing a global corporation and its brands to the world. Because I have been working for this company for so long, I understand their priorities and philosophy and consequently the content I am translating. I also understand how my texts slot into the bigger picture.
Photo: BMW AG/Piper Verlag, Munich
This German manufacturer of high-quality furniture and accessories prides itself on its attention to detail. Which makes Schönbuch and me the perfect match!
Because I have worked for them for so long, I know the world of Schönbuch inside and out and am able to convey the feel of the brand in my translations, reflecting their sleek, contemporary, aesthetic practicality in what I write. Whether text or video, the aim of my translations is to express the unique nature of the brand.
Since 2010 my translations have been helping raise awareness and trust across the English-speaking world for the German bone marrow donor organisation DKMS. The aim is to encourage the public to register as stem cell donors and give as many blood cancer patients as possible a second chance at life. To support DKMS in their mission, I translate a variety of texts into English, ranging from information and FAQs about the donation itself to highly emotional personal stories and annual reports.
As a translator, my job is to offer clarity and build trust through clear language, and lay the foundation for relationships with potential stem cell donors through my work.
In 2018 I translated the website of the Jewish Community in Frankfurt. It had been redesigned to help new arrivals from around the world establish themselves in the city and connect with the community.
The project was challenging in two key ways: first, it entailed detailed research into festivals, rituals and milestones in Jewish life to ensure I described them suitably and with the correct terminology. Second, translating websites means ensuring every item of text will slot neatly into place on the final site.