“For me, all art, but specially paintings are much more than a piece of furniture or an investment project. They are soul openers, a journey inside, like a shamanic ride into different levels of consciousness.”
Journey of Synthesis: Katharina Dustmann ‘s Artistic Evolution
Katharina Dustmann, born in 1965 in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, experienced her early years amidst the scenic dikes of northern Germany. These idyllic surroundings laid the foundation for her evolving artistic sensibilities. She commenced her professional journey in 1983, establishing a unique position within the artistic community by seamlessly fusing art, music, and sensory experiences. Dustmann’s academic pursuits led her to specialize in sound mastery, delving into audio’s transformative role in art and multimedia installations.
In 1989, Katharina co-established “Studio Katharco GbR,” a sound and production studio. Here, the artist honed her skills in film and music production, while c oncurrently exploring the harmonious interplay between visual elements and sound. She i mmersed herself in a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including painting, photography, s tage design, costume, and mask design, through her comprehensive studies in mask theater. Her engagements at prestigious venues such as the Alte Oper Frankfurt, Gasometer
Oberhausen, and Philharmonie Cologne, among others, facilitated the development of her distinctive style that intricately intertwines visual art with musical elements.
Synesthetic Creations: The Healing Power of Art
A pivotal aspect of Dustmann’s creative oeuvre is the exploration of synesthesia, wherein she intertwines varying sensory perceptions to craft profoundly sensual and intuitive pieces. Her body of work, which encompasses ongoing projects like “Where the Light Lives in the Water,” “Color, color, color,” “Klangbilder,” and “Sound of Colors,” traverses the domains of painting, photography, music, and installation, providing an immersive multi-sensory experience.
For Katharina, artworks, particularly paintings, function as gateways to diverse layers of consciousness and possess the potential for therapeutic impact. Dustmann perceives them as companions, guides, luminous sources, and alleviators of grief. The artist believes that when individuals come across a resonating piece, it initiates a bond akin to friendship, invoking joy and facilitating emotional connection.
Katharina Dustmann: A Confluence of Sound, Color, and Form
Among the artist’s most celebrated works are “Klangbilder” and “Sound of Colors,” masterpieces that seamlessly blend visual elements with meticulously crafted music to fashion cohesive and holistic art experiences. These creations are emblematic of Dustmann’s ability to curate multimedia art experiences that extend beyond galleries and can be cherished within the sanctity of one’s home. She has showcased her paintings, sound paintings, and installations in prominent national and international exhibitions, including venues such as the Hong Art Museum in China and Art Expo Basel. The recognition of her artistic prowess is evident through accolades and stipends awarded in acknowledgment of her contributions.
Katharina Dustmann’s approach to photography is akin to painting with light and orchestrating music with sounds. Focusing on abstraction, she crafts vivid, painterly color landscapes accentuated by interplays of light and shadow, alongside geometric figures. Dustmann’s series, “Where the Light Lives in the Water,” delves into reflections on aquatic surfaces, with prints manifested on diverse materials including aluminum, wood, and cotton, utilizing high-resolution pigment inks.
Vibrant Explorations: Katharina’s Ongoing Artistic Voyage
A particularly cherished series by Katharina is “Color, Color, Color,” a collection where vibrant hues command the spotlight. Pieces such as “Yes or No” demonstrate her transformative prowess, as an image of three white jellyfish metamorphoses into a colorful canine figure.
Similarly, “Madame Pompadour” draws inspiration from a puppet in a Parisian shop window, exemplifying Dustmann’s capacity for imaginative reinterpretation.
In an era where artistic boundaries continually blur, Katharina positions herself as a fervent explorer of synesthesia and the amalgamation of visual art with music. Her creations extend an invitation to viewers for a kaleidoscopic journey through the diverse facets of artistic expression. With unwavering enthusiasm, Dustmann anticipates crafting more innovative pieces, continually contributing to the dynamic tapestry of art.
