Monika Jia Rui Scherer (b. 1995 in Singapore) is a German-Singaporean photographer based in Switzerland.
Moni works with (self-)portraits, text, photo books and zines, using both digital and analog photography and performative elements. Growing up queer in a Catholic-Chinese family, Moni uses text and camera to explore the themes of intimacy, culture, gender and relational identity.
contact: info@monikajiarui.com
Education
2021-24 | MA Contemporary Arts Practice – Hochschule der Künste Bern, Switzerland
2016-19 | BA Camera Arts – Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Switzerland
Workshops
2021 «Impromptu Workshop» with Void to produce a photo book
2020 «Emotional Panorama – A Workshop On Editing As A Creative Tool with Caimi & Piccinni», PHmuseum in Bologna, Italy
2019 Nikon–NOOR Academy Masterclass with Sanne De Wilde, Bénédicte Kurzen and Pep Bonet in Vienna, Austria
2019 «(Un)Making Images Together: Photography and Collaboration» with Anthony Luvera and Vincen Beeckman, International Summer School of Photography (ISSP) in Zalenieki, Latvia
2017 Portrait Workshop with Ryan Muirhead in Glasgow, Scotland
Publications
2021 «strangers days ago», book, produced during the workshop with Void
2020 «one-way streets», zine
2019 «sunday at jonah's» & «queering national day», zines, part of the project «queer lieben»
2019 «strangers days ago», zine, produced during ISSP
2019 «we’re too young to run in circles», book, BA final project
Group Exhibitions
2022 «borderlands» with Shannon Tomasik, QUEER IDENTITIES, 25. Pink Apple Queer Film Festival, Das Gleis, Zürich
2021 «lovers», Jugendkulturfestival, Basel
2020 «we're too young to run in circles», lila.20 queer festival, Rote Fabrik Zürich
2019 «queer lieben», TABU Kunst Festival, LangstrassenKultur Zürich
2019 «queer lieben», Lust_Art, Space Grotesk Basel
2019 «Polaroids», Jungpalett, Diesellokal Windisch
2019 «we're too young to run in circles», BA Abschlussausstellung, Messe Luzern
2018 «Ornella», Fetter Schinken, Neubad Luzern
Media
2021 publication of images of «borderlands» with Shannon Tomasik in 041 – Das Kulturmagazin × das Lamm on «Konsens»
2021 publication of images of «Jonah» in Like A Girl Magazin No. 9 on «Tabu»
2020 publication of images of «we're too young to run in circles» with an article about asexuality by The Correspondent
Funding
2021 FONDS RESPECT, for the project «queer lieben»
2020 Stadt Baden, for the project «Zwischen zwei Welten»
2019 ProArgovia Kaktus, for the project «Zwischen zwei Welten»
2019 kulturdünger, for the project «queer lieben»