Sylvia Von Bernstorff

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, living and working in Wiesbaden

Restriction to black and white
For me, the reduction to black and white means both a challenge and freedom. The freedom to be receptive to everything. It is an open game of expressive possibilities to find ways to express my ideas within a framework. Restriction can lead to surprising results. The element of surprise, the unexpected, is what I'm looking for. I am on the lookout for strange constellations of lines and shapes.
By limiting myself to black and white, the viewer's attention is drawn to the forms and structures of the work. Colours are emotionally charged and distracting. Without the distraction, I can concentrate on the composition, lines and form - and so can the viewer. Superfluous elements are eliminated. The essential becomes visible.
Abstraction
For me, working abstractly means freedom. I use it to keep reality at a distance. The field of research is huge and the risk of failure anyway: this plays a major role in my work.
Abstraction has the potential to be a universal language that everyone could understand if you can stand the room for interpretation. It can help open up new perspectives and invites viewers to go beyond the obvious. It allows me to tra...

2004-2009
Academy of arts “wfk Wiesbadener Freie Kunstschule”, Wiesbaden, studies in visual art (painting, synthetic drawing, art theory)

2008-2009
Academy of arts “Städelabendschule”, Frankfurt/Main

2019 + 2020
Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts
Master Class with Tobias Pils

2009-2012
Curatorial work with national and international artists

2014-2016 Co-organiser of the open studio project “Tatorte Kunst”

Since 2023
Member of GEDOK – Europe’s largest network for women artists of all disciplines, founded in 1926

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