Tina Oelker

Die Welt ist das, was in Bewegung ist. (The world is that which is in motion.)

Tina Oelker, born 1973 in West Germany, lives and works in Hamburg since 1995. Her paintings begin where it never ends. With “ Kallisto & Co, 25 Colours Stockholm and 12.5 Colours Florence“, Tina Oelker has arrived after 30 years back in abstraction. She became known with her long-term project „1000 Hares“, which is still in its entirety under lock and key. On December 1st, 2007, the artist started with the „Tageshasen # 0001“, opened her second producer gallery „Hasenmanufaktur Hamburg“ until then and celebrated exactly 7 years later the 1000th Hare. In the spring of 2021, her first illustrated book, „Of Hares and Gods, N° 1“, was published. In it, Oelker condenses 20 years of her creative work, and one can guess what power and complexity her work of the 1000 Hasen alone holds. Her painting, rich in variation and also versed in art history, not only testifies to a foresight, but also makes visible what an artist creates when he takes Free Art literally and lives it.

Ihre Bilder beginnen dort, wo es niemals endet. Mit „ Kallisto & Co, 25 Farben Stockholm und 12,5 Farben Florenz“, ist Tina Oelker nach 30 Jahren wieder in der Abstraktion angekommen. Bekannt wurde sie mit ihrem Langzeitprojekt "1000 Hasen“, was bis heute in seiner Gänze noch unter Verschluss steht. Am 1. Dezember 2007 begann die Künstlerin mit dem „Tageshasen # 0001“, eröffnete ihre bis dahin zweite Produzentengalerie „Hasenmanufaktur Hamburg“ und feierte genau 7 Jahre darauf den 1000. Hasen. Im Frühjahr 2021 erschien ihr erster Bildband, „Von Hasen und Göttern, N° 1“, darin verdichtet Oelker 20 Jahre ihres Schaffens, und man ahnt, welche Kraft und Komplexität allein ihr Werk der 1000 Hasen birgt. Ihre variantenreiche und kunsthistorisch versierte Malerei zeugt nicht nur von einer Voraussicht, sondern macht sichtbar, was ein Künstler hervorbringt, wenn er die Freie Kunst wörtlich nimmt und lebt.

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 paint, and in the last 20 years I have been able to intensify the variations, expression and compositions of colors in my painting.

What themes do you pursue?

I use the theme of hunting in its ambiguity, the natural interplay of male and female, returned to Greek mythology via the hare, and again intend to let painting itself become the subject.

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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