artist statement

Utopias Need Not Be Realistic

I’m often asked why I use the anarchy symbol as my signature. Anarchy means the absence of rule, and while I know this doesn’t function in the real world, this utopia works on canvas. Beyond dysfunctional systems of governance, we face the looming threat of climate catastrophe. Privately, we struggle with our own inadequacies, never feeling good enough. What if things were different? I attempt to pose this question in my paintings with an optimistic view of the future. Fear of frustration prevents many from envisioning utopias for themselves. Having no idea about the future is synonymous with hopelessness. How might the world look if we allowed ourselves to hope more?

“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at,” wrote Oscar Wilde. While grand utopias fail or even invert in the real world outside, they become real in miniature on canvas. This is essentially what defines art. A blank canvas symbolizes absolute freedom. In principle, everything is conceivable; even the unthinkable becomes possible. I usually start with a vague idea that takes on a life of its own and develops during the process – the freedom that emerges from the flow is an indescribable feeling. Often, I’m surprised by the result myself. Benedict Wells wrote: “Art arises from necessity” – I feel little more than this sentence.

Here you can find an interview with me in Artistcloseup magazine.

https://www.artistcloseup.com/blog/interview-annkathrin-immler

What If We Limit Ourselves by Committing to One Style?

Does this still do justice to our world today? I don’t think so… Expressionist representations alongside graphic elements can be found in my paintings, as well as impressionistic moods and graffiti. Graphic design, fashion, interior trends, and street art shape our consciousness of aesthetics consciously or unconsciously and are subject to permanent change. By mixing on canvas what I perceive around me, I try to establish a connection to the ambivalence of our time.