For some time now, the subject of exploring the outside world has been a constant for me, and this can be seen—sometimes discreetly, sometimes more directly—in my current works such as Brother & Sister – The Final Countdown.

My works describe societal phenomena that I perceive as “disturbed.” They show contemporary themes, issues and events, and they reflect the influence of media, politics and history on the individual. I aim to present critical conditions through exaggeration, projecting my overstated perception onto people or objects via the image and the title. This may be subtle or direct. At some point I began defining my work as political satirical Pop Art.

I experimented with photography very early on, developing my photographs in the darkroom (1980s) and then I gained insights in a number of different creative areas (1990s). Once I had completed my studies, I ultimately opted for painting. Here I found the breathing room for my expressive possibilities to unfold, and it was a craft that suited me. I was first going to study film, acting or stage directing, but then I decided in favor of graphic art and painting, which continues to present me with fresh challenges every day. The large-format canvas serves as my reflective surface, as a mirror and interlocutor. The subject that emerges in the painting will depend on several conditions. I find inspiration in literature, in philosophy, in societal contexts as well as in conversations, in the media and in films. 

Dikla Stern
Berlin, 2018