Dark drama and subliminal tension often reverberate in my sculptures and paintings. Raised in post-war Germany in the wake of the Holocaust, my work is informed by family trauma as well as by the collective guilt I grew up with. Juxtaposing themes of segregation and exclusion with expressions of belonging and joy is the my attempt to communicate the paradoxes I perceive in myself and in society.
I use strong contrast, simplified forms and bold energetic marks to articulate inner emotional states as well as to invite questions of social justice.
Rooted in my original career as a writer, I depict whole narratives in which my stylized people interact. Faces are deliberately treated carelessly. The focus is on the language of the body which I deem not only more subtle, but also more genuine, particularly when it comes to social interactions.
My desire to push the boundaries of awareness, my own and that of viewers, sparks a process of radical experimentation. Works start with stream of consciousness writing followed by layers of paint applied with large gestural movement to access somatic wisdom. The shape of each sculpture is informed by the previous one, trusting the hands as they manifest experiences that might be from generations prior. The final abstracted posture is carefully composed, reflecting my fascination with the intersection between analytical inquiry and the intuitive.
