What themes and ideas are reflected in your artistic work?

In my paintings, I focus primarily on my own question of origin. My father and all those before him were born on the island of Sylt, and I am the first generation not to have lived there – yet I have been taught the family pride in our heritage by the generations before me. It was only as I grew older that I became aware of the discrepancy between my connection to the island and society’s view of it. Despite many things that I strongly criticise and which I dislike entirely, that sense of pride has never faded. In my art, I try – broadly speaking – to reflect on and analyse these experiences.

Which materials and techniques

do you prefer to use to express your creativity?

These days, I enjoy

painting with oils the most. I started working with oils about a year ago, when my professor told me it suited my style best. I’m constantly learning new things. Hopefully, woodblock printing and other printmaking techniques will be added to the mix soon. I’m still very new to these and lack experience, though.

Is there an artist whose work particularly inspires you, and why?

I don’t want to limit myself to just one. There are several artists who inspire me, and I try to learn from them and reinvent things in my own way. I really like Horst Jannsen’s prints. For example, I drew inspiration from his self-portraits for the painting ‘Ekke Nekkepenn’. Otherwise, I really like paintings with strong, thick brushstrokes, such as those by Wenzel Hablik. I find Emil Nolde’s works ‘Das Meer VI’ and ‘Schlepper auf der Elbe’ particularly fascinating because of their dark areas and contrasts. When it comes to figures in motion, such as in the painting ‘Trachtendamen’, I drew inspiration from Toulouse-Lautrec’s drawings.

What role does figuration play in your creative process?

Where does your creativity flourish most – at home, in a studio or somewhere else?

I always get my best ideas for my paintings when I’m a bit away from my studio. The further away I am, the more ideas I have. Probably because I want to get started again. Once I’ve recharged my batteries and my fingers are itching to get started, I head back to my studio and get to work.

How would you describe your unique style, and how has it developed during your studies?

What are your passions and hobbies outside of art and your studies?

I’m a huge football fan and love cooking whenever I get the chance. I also enjoy going for lots of jogs; it helps me take my mind off work. But above all, I create art in my spare time, and alongside my job, it’s naturally my biggest hobby.

Have you had any special or memorable encounters with a customer that you’d like to share?

I’ve actually only had good experiences so far. I try to deliver as many prints as possible in person, and every encounter I’ve had so far has been positive in its own way. The one that’s probably stuck in my mind the most is a sale in Stuttgart, where I was given a very warm welcome and was able to chat to the buyers about my plans and my work. Due to a misunderstanding, I didn’t hand over the artwork in person, so I met up with the buyers again a few days later. That gave me the motivation to want to deliver the artworks in person more often. I’ve also met some great people in Düsseldorf and Hamburg, and I’ve always had a lot of fun. It also puts my mind at ease to be there in person to see that the customer is happy, rather than simply sending the painting off without knowing where it will end up or on which wall it will hang. I always think to myself: I’ll never see that brushstroke again. But when you see which wall it’s going to hang on, that worry disappears.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?