Tina Oelker

Abstract art is close to what the world really is.

Tina Oelker, born 1973 in Westphalia, is a German artist, based in Hamburg. Her ability to create things from within and to simply dare to do so already characterized her in her youth. Detached from family and other norms, she is constantly reinventing herself and experimenting in various disciplines. Her galleries „Durchgang“ and „Hafentor7“ were her first large and public projects. With the launch of 1000 Hasen Tina gained greater attention. She completed the 1000 originals at the end of 2014 and has been painting abstractly ever since. Both the variety of her hares and her entire repertoire of the last 30 years result in a painting that is entirely her own. She creates a series of vital and powerful paintings in interaction with poetry, prose, concepts and current happenings. The artist often takes up her works again and integrates them into ongoing processes. This results in entire work complexes that she consciously creates and assigns independently of linear time sequences. The artist is often in self-experimentation. As with method acting, Tina captures the themes layer by layer. She then renders them in her abstract way to reveal their authenticity.

Autobiografie:
https://text.tinaoelker.com/


CV

1973 born in Hamm-Westphalia, Germany, lives and works in Hamburg since 1995
1989 - 1994: Evening classes for modern painting, Eckart Wendler, Hamm-Westphalia
1990 - 1994: Exhibition assistance, Federico Schiaffino, Castello Brown, Portofino, Italy
1991 - 1993: Nude drawing as a guest at the University of Applied Sciences and Academy in Cologne and Düsseldorf
1994:  The Art Students League of New York, Hillary Holmes Class, NYC, USA
1995:  School of Visual Arts, Monica Wellington Class, New York City, USA
1998 – 2004: HAW-Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg

(Prof. Ryoram Merose, Prof. Klaus Waschk, Prof. Hartmut Gudenau,
 Prof. Michael Lingner (HfbK),
Prof. Franz Erhard Walther (HfbK))
2004:  Diploma Design, On the Hare Hunt - The Hare as a Motif in Art and Culture

2003 – 2005: Durchgang, producer gallery, Milchstrasse 21 A, Hamburg (founder and curator)
2010 – 2014: Hafentor7, producer gallery, Hafentor 7, Hamburg (founder and curator)
2007 – 2014: 1000 Hasen Manufacture, Hamburg
since 2015: 25 Farben Stockholm (abstract painting)
since 2024: TOPIA, Veracity Report

What is it about your studio space that inspires you?

The old, tactile materials of the studio, the freedom and the time I can live in the middle of the city.

What sounds, scents and sights do you encounter while in your studio?

The smell of fresh oil color with hints of turpentine and fresh espresso

What is your favourite material to work with? How has your use of it evolved throughout your practice?

I use oil paints, balsamic turpentine, cotton fabric, linen, several brushes, rags and the use of hand cream has probably increased immensely in the last 20 years.

What themes do you pursue?

Chronologically: Greek mythology, the interaction of male and female, hunting, the hare, since 2015 the detachment from certain themes, abstraction, colour and form as the subject of painting

What advice has had the biggest impact on your career?

Create yourself!

If you could install your art absolutely anywhere, where would that be?

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?

Lass mal den Affen, der geht!

If you weren´t an artist, what would you be doing?

Psychology and farming

What are your favourite places besides your studio?

Wherever I can ride my racing bike

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