Dating Art - An Artistic Self-Odyssey

Aftermovie

Editing: Patrick Baier ; Music: Patrick Schmidt

Dating Art - An Artistic Self- Odyssey

Imagine a man meets a woman. There’s a quiet, immediate spark—subtle yet undeniable. He feels drawn to her, curious, inspired… but instead of moving closer, he hesitates. He doubts. He steps back—not because he doesn’t care, but because he doesn’t feel ready. Still, the connection never fully fades. She never fully disappears fromhis life. And with time, the man begins to understand: If I want to be close to her, I have to grow. I have to become the man who is truly ready to meet her presence. So he does the work, and she grows her trust in him, and they get closer again. And one day, he knows he is ready. Still humble, but ready to dive into the unknown and trust, he asks her to be in union.

Dating Art - An Artistic Self - Odyssey

I see the years from my first time painting in 2021 to this exhibition in 2025 as our “dating phase.” Over this time, art grew from a spontaneous exploration into something that I can not not do. It became part of me.
This exhibition marks a turning point: from playful exploration to honest commitment, from insecurity to the courage to see myself as an artist. The paintings in this exhibition are deeply rooted in my personal journey. Each one reflects a key moment or phase of transformation in my life. Themes like vulnerability, grief, expansion, and joy intertwine with recurring motifs: self-portraits, feminine energy, symbolism, figuration, abstraction, and childlike expression. My aim is not to show you reality as you perceive it through your eyes, but to reveal deeper layers of reality— how I perceived these moments beyond the physical.
Each piece started with a concept, but evolves intuitively. I respond to the canvas in dialogue. Acrylic and oil pastels are my chosen tools. Acrylic offering clarity, oil pastels raw emotion and spontaneity, I don’t expect you to see what I see—and that’s the beauty. Tell me what you feel, see, or think. I’m genuinely curious. This exhibition is about choosing what’s true, what’s real, and what’s yours. For me, it’s choosing to be an artist.

Alchemy of Love (Concert)
2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x80 cm

The beginning of it all. “Alchemy of Love” is the name of a concert by SunDari —one I didn’t expect to change my life. But something deep inside me got reactivated, and I started remembering. A love was awakened—not towards a person, but towards Art. The next day, I received the intuition to paint for the first time since childhood. This piece captures what I felt inside during the concert.

First Date
2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x120 cm

After weeks of pushing the urge to paint away, I finally picked up the brush. This moment felt like a first date with Art. In this piece, you actually see the first painting I ever made. I’m showing it proudly, but also with doubt. An inner conflict: Is this good enough? Am I allowed to call this art? The flame of passion got ignited and grew. A bright sun above burns away the question marks, and art herself, represented by the feminine, who is witnessing it.

Wrong Direction Bro
2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x120 cm

This piece captures a time when I was trying to walk away from art. I got caught in shadow and false ego strategies, chasing things that weren’t truly mine. You can see my head caged, while the shadow smiles. A clown mask begins to take form on my face. But art never fully left. You can see art trying to reach after me, not pointing in a direction, but trying to remind me of the beauty we can experience together.

Spiritual Circus - Spotify Playlist Schamane
2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 90x70 cm

This piece shows the peak of my shadow strategies. A time when I thought I was spiritually elevated, but was actually blinded by illusions. I wore a smile, but it was a mask. Inside, I felt sadness. My actions hurt the feminine, they hurt art and life. I neglected Art. This painting is an honest, transparent, and vulnerable representation of painful times. It is a reminder that it is your responsibility to honor life with the gifts you received from her.

Can You Feel the Light Inside? Can You Feel That Fire?
2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x80 cm

This painting represents a turning point. A moment where death symbolically spoke to me and I finally listened. A moment of deep realization. I saw the damage that I created and how I had adopted ways of living that weren’t true to m and against life. In one honest and deeply painful as well as liberating conversation with a friend, the mask cracked. My soul could breathe again. A breakthrough moment, I now see many gifts in it.

Temperencia
2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 70x50 cm

Initialinisierung
2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x100 cm

This piece marks the beginning of facing further shadows and inner fears with more honesty. Less resistance. More presence. This art piece was inspired by an Oracle card I pulled. You see my body covered in color—that's exactly how I looked after painting.

Loving Fire
2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 120x90 cm

This painting speaks about being at peace with fire, with transformation, with constant change. You’ll notice two faces/old versions of me. They’re being released, represented by two cords being burned and disconnected from me. Despite the flames, I sit in calmness.

Cut It
2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x120 cm

This piece explores what it means to truly mature. For me, that included redefining the relationship with my parents—not disconnecting from them, but growing into an adult. Growing to an eye-to-eye level relationship. You see me with the head of a grown man and the body of a baby, lying on the floor—my old self. My “new” self stands tall, cutting theenergetic umbilical cord. This also allows the feminine to bloom in a new way—flowers sprout. I offer her a rose in gratitude.

Moon
2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 70x50 cm

Proposal: Yes/No/Maybe
2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 100x120 cm

You see me kneeling, proposing to Art to be in a relationship. Two versions of me appear: one bowing in humility, one gazing at Art with presence. There’s gratitude in my posture. Honesty in my offering. You’ll notice I have wings—not yet as large as hers, but growing. I’m ready. This painting is not just a painting. It is the symbol of this entire exhibition. My way of saying yes to art, yes to myself, and asking Art to be in a relationship.

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