Sophie von Hellermann

The paintings of Sophie von Hellermann (1975, Germany) not infrequently suggest a complex storyline. Yet it transpires that it is not von Hellermann herself who has set these in motion. She paints from imagination, with no predetermined plan. This lets her scope, with almost automatic spontaneity, the space of the subconscious, bringing forth a fairytale, imaginative language of imagery. Von Hellermann is interested in the workings of the mind and how dream imagery arises. Past and present experiences, thoughts and images blend together in her work. For her, painting is a continual process. She paints in pigments and acrylic on unworked canvases and uses a great deal of water and large brushes, which calls for a rapid painting technique.