Doris Hafner
* 1963 in Augsburg, Germany
2013-2019 Living in Penang /Malaysia
Since 9 / 2019 in Germany

 

Either by expression of the unsaid, by creating a shift in perception, by uniting contrasts, by crossing borders and traditions and more.

To reflect and re-invent the own perception of memorized pieces of reality into a new "map" moves the artist. Impressions belonging to the past by the moment you memorize them are translated into layers of traces, footprints of the own and - therefore - also society's history. Every painting tells a unique story, hidden on the pure canvas under the textures, paint and colours. The surface is therefore vibrant, but won't reveal.
 

The artist believes in the power of art, the creative process, the intuition and the essential desire of humans for creativity.
 

Inspired in earlier years by Wassily Kandinsky, Max Beckmann and especially by Joseph Beuys, later by local artists in Dachau, the artwork developed more and more towards abstract paintings and mixed materials.

 

Experienced on her own the hardship of an artist and the pressure of politicians, society, events and galleries she makes her living by working on different jobs to follow her passion freely and independently.

 

WORK PROCESS

Living on the island “Pulau Pinang” in Malaysia, I am using the traditional material of rattan to replace the classical square canvas stretchers. Children had in former times hula-hoop-rings made out of rattan. Inspired by the local Chinese tradition “roll paintings”, some of my paintings are free hanging canvasses on a round wooden or rattan stick.
The round format changed my approach on how to compose a painting and supports me to focus on the main elements of the composition.
Another inspiration derives from the rich nature together - in general - with the Malaysian culture which refers traditionally and due to religious reasons also strongly to patterns of nature and floral elements.
Secondly, while working in a local ceramic workshop the textures, reliefs and accidentally traces of the hands and fingers in the clay, the light and shadows and the roughness of the material inspires me to paint with materials.

And finally, the bright sunlight gives an impact on how to use colours. The other influence refers to old houses and shop lots, where paint and plaster of the walls and blinders burst. Accordingly, in my paintings the different layers of paint, plaster or paste will be destroyed, removed and replaced and sometimes the canvas will be even crushed.

 

 

Talks & Presentations

 

Art Reflections - Follow your passion.

         Presentation and article, 14th International Art Festival and Workshop in Thailand 2019,
          Poh-Chang Academy of Arts, Rajamangala University, Rattanakosin, Thailand. 

 

What is Art? - A series of talks at Keeni Kessler Gallery, Penang

         * Seraphine and Art in Solitude for No Audience -  And about French Naive Painters. 

             19 Nov 2017

          * Wassily Kandinsky. An artist in times of radical changes: the socio-political context of art. 

             18 Mar 2017

           * Lost in Art or Follow Your Passion? Interactive talk and presentation. 
             10 Dec 2016

          * From Cave Paintings to Modern Paintings. 
             26 Nov 2016