Christel Sobke
Biography
For many years, one of the focal points of my art has been dealing with the major challenges of our time, the climatic changes on our small, wonderful planet.
As a warning artist, i first pointed out this phenomenon in the 80s, - often smiled at back then. Now I think we can no longer ignore this challenge of nature, of which we are also a part, don`t forget it!
We must act, find intelligent and sustainable answers to counter this fact of global warming. What is stopping us from wanting to preserve our planet as a place to live?
Another inexhaustible theme is dealing with human existence between poverty and boredom, between young and old, between woman and man and so on and so forth.
What’s your background?
Despite my parents' very limited financial resources, they made sure that I received a good school education. My creativity was particularly encouraged. It turned out early on that I could spend hours with colored pencils. When I was 7-8 years old, an artist gave me lessons in drawing, for example, leaves and our house and thus trained my perception. I was instructed to draw the smallest details with the greatest accuracy. Art became a favorite subject at school. As a teenager, I read a lot about art movements and artist biographies. I was initially fascinated by the Cubists and Cezanne. I cried over Van Gogh and was thrilled about the long way to abstractism in Kandinsky. i first studied German and English literature and pedagogy in order to become a teacher. I didn't have the courage to study art because of my economic situation. i first studied german and english literature and pedagogy in order to become a teacher. I didn't have the courage to study art because of my economic situation. Only after marrying the dermatologist Berndt Sobke did I dare to take this step, after my children were now of school age. I studied art and design at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences. Since 1982 I have been working as a freelancer and enjoy my artistry
What does it mean to you to win the Collectors Art Prize?
Like every artist, the award ceremony is of course a confirmation of my striving to convey something to the public through art. Since the beginning of my career i have always been concerned with the problems of our time. The increasing environmental problems in particular are of central importance. I enjoy presenting this topic again and again with new stylistic means. I think this award will be a big step forward for my career.
What do you think is the role of art in the world today?
I think that a visual artist can also be perceived as a warning voice that today, thanks to the rapid communication possibilities through the media, art also has a social aspect. Many of my works can be found in this spectrum. There are many ways to draw attention to abuses and dangers: politically or in the social environment. Since visual art works with visual perception, the way it is presented is also very important to me. A successful pictorial representation may not be as immediately legible as a banner, but it may be more enduring.
What would it be if you could change one thing about the art world?
I would often wish for more seriousness. Certainly art is also a kind of free space. It has something liberating, something aesthetic and also playful. But I think especially in our time of great conflicts, as the present shows, she should also be willing to take responsibility. The difficulty is that our world has become more multi-layered, complex and, above all, more contemporaneous due to technological developments in the media. Topics and problems of all kinds are addressed simultaneously and globally, and comments and views on them can be communicated at the same time. We must make the effort, each for himself, to decide for this or that. to recognize right or wrong. It is a challenge of a global nature, but also a great opportunity at the same time. A world with only one opinion filtered out as correct for us would not do justice to the diversity of humanity. We should spare no effort in finding what is right for us, each for us.
What are your most significant professional achievements?
They are quite numerous. I Have exhibited in more than 20 countries. I have got many awrds and have won many prizes. But the most important ting to me, that the show goes on, that I am as creative as at the beginning of my career, and I have the hope that I could move something tot he better. When I started my numerious exhibitions with my Series of 3 paintings to show changes and changeability with repeating composition and altered colours I was often laughed at from behind. A pretty woman and behaves like a Cassandra, what is wrong with her? But now mankind takes behalf of changes that cannot longer be denied and what is even better: Mankind is ready to do something to preserve the planet.
What do you wish to tell viewers about your work that might not come out explicitly? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork?
That is very difficult to answer. Experience has shown that every viewer perceives a picture differently. maybe I would just wish, since I am often very unusual and not directly e.g. floods or landslides or earthquakes, and any kind of destruction represent that one thinks about why I took a picture e.g. splitting into strips or parts of a picture slipping crazy, parts of the picture colorful and other uncolored represent etc. the mere fact that images are not fully deciphered may also arouse curiosity in the viewer and he begins to think about the intentions behind an unconventional type of representation.
What advice would you give to the upcoming generation of artists?
I would always say: be fearless. Say what you have to say. If you were educated at a university or academy, break away from all worldviews and ideologies as soon as possible. Listen to yourself and show what moves you in your works. Maybe that moves other people just like you do and you will find answers.
In what direction would you like to see your career go in the next five years?
I have no answer to that.
Country Germany
Website www.art-christel-sobke.de
