Dance the downfall II Painting

1959 Born in Wismar, East Germany
1981-1984 College of Applied Art, Heiligendamm, East Germany
1984 88 Diploma in Design, Leipzig; design work at Leipzig Central Station
1988 Emigration to Stuttgart, West Germany; interior architect up to 2004
1991-93 International Colour Academy in Bretzfeld and Salzburg: Colour psychology
2005 Freelance artist and member of BBK/VBKW
Courses in free painting and ceramic sculpture
2007 Member of Ligne et Couleur, Stuttgart
2008 Annual participation in art auctions for the benefit of Brazilian street kids via
the Giovane Elber Foundation
2009 Annual participation in Vaihinger Art to support children suffering from cancer

People
Petra Seibert

Abstract or figurative? That is how I believe the world was created: from the big bang (chaos) to order (huge masses engulfing smaller ones and forcing them into orbit), i.e. order slowly emerging from chaos. That is exactly how I work. I generate a state of immense chaos a wonderful warming-up process and my fast pace of work, initially without a plan, creates the best possible connection to the inner images or, should we say, to an inner disposition, an inner opening I feel should never be missing in painting.

To start with, my prime concern was to completely switch off my brain. My art classes, initially, are all about switching off your brain and when you visit an exhibition of paintings, I recommend switching off the brain (though please dont pull a headset over your ears). In other words, I wanted to let go, not want anything specific, allow things to happen and be prepared for surprises. It was all about training senses that had been buried by reason. About finding where the pictures are, making contact with that place and reaching a state of flux without inner evaluation. Silencing that inner chatterbox. Of course it was a process of stirring and searching, mainly in the abstract. But for me this turned out to be a dead end. From my own experience I knew full well that clinging to the object can kill creativity (e.g. the life drawing drill during my design course). Besides, everybody teaches you to progress from the figurative to the abstract. But I felt that something was wrong.