Klaus Hartmann

Klaus Hartmann founded his reputation with paintings about the everyday leisure activities of the Germans. His early works are focused on portraying allotment gardens, fun fairs, amusement parks with big wheels, circus wagons pulled by horses, show booths and Chinese eateries that seek to appear exotic. The painted scenes are devoid of human forms; used by no one, the carousels stand as if in the aftermath of some catastrophe, pointlessly...

Klaus Hartmann founded his reputation with paintings about the everyday leisure activities of the Germans. His early works are focused on portraying allotment gardens, fun fairs, amusement parks with big wheels, circus wagons pulled by horses, show booths and Chinese eateries that seek to appear exotic. The painted scenes are devoid of human forms; used by no one, the carousels stand as if in the aftermath of some catastrophe, pointlessly spinning. The hope of something ‘nicer´; some small piece of happiness, to which these places owe their existence, is disappointed. After the invitation to an artistic project in China he has painted some megacity paintings inspired by a miniature model of the City of Shanghai.

The german art historian and author Dietmar Elger described Hartmann´s early works: "The style of Hartmann´s painting and the objects he paints do not come to any kind of accord that could help the viewer to comprehend his picture world completely. But this is exactly what makes up their aesthetic and narrative appeal. These unfinished motifs-in-progress leave the viewer constantly in a state of ignorance: not one of the paintings offers him a one-dimensional, trustworthy interpretation. Hartmann is a naturalist who does not seek truth in this world, but creates in his pictures a reality that can boast a genuine painterly presence."

Hartmann grew up in a Protestant parsonage. During his childhood in the GDR they often had visitors from Tanzania. Maybe it was the visitors’ tales and stories about a faraway continent – so distant as to be out of reach – that aroused his curiosity and desire for traveling. Not until later, when he was an art student, did he first travel to East Africa. Since 2006 he developed parallel to his other works a group of Tanzania paintings - "Jua Toka and the Source of Shades".

For more information, please visit Klaus Hartmann´s website: www.klaushartmann.eu