The artist Wolfgang Wimhöfer
Lippstadt native Wolfgang Wimhöfer, born in 1948, likes to commute between his children's academy and his Rheinblick studio in Düsseldorf. His first works of art were created in 1969 around the first moon landing and the film "2001 A Space Odyssey", where he was particularly impressed and inspired by "HAL 9000", the supercomputer and the surreal stargate sequence towards the end. From 1970 onwards, under the general influence of Op Art and the professors Beuys and Kuhna, he began to study painting freely. Cesar Manrique (Canary Islands, Lanzarote) and Kurt Link (Turkey) not only sharpened his ability to see the essentials in things. The liveliness and joie de vivre of Manrique's colorful installations seem to resonate in one or other of his works in a very unique way.
His passion for water hydrants has led to many works...
... and he impressively draws attention to these occasional "life savers" who otherwise receive little attention.
But what significance do the hydrants have for Wimhöfer? How do they fit into his art style of “Informal Art”? His answer: "Fire hydrants connect me as a landmark "water tower" with my birthplace Lippstadt. Since, on my initiative, 100-year-old fire hydrants in the Düsseldorf harbor were listed as historical monuments on the occasion of the 90th harbor festival, they have looked at me with their eyes as an alter ego Anchor in a safe harbor and, as representatives of fire and water, a source of inexhaustible bubbling ideas and inspiration. In practical terms, they also helped me to have a spacious studio in the harbor. As a precursor to the www, they are, like networked computers today, the end points of a water network connected and therefore usable as democratic suppliers of vital water for all people."
Not only are the exhibitions of his unique works attracting attention, but the 76-year-old Wimhöfer is not afraid to bravely break new ground! While some artists are still frightened by terms such as Non-Fungible Token (NFT), Blockchain, Ethereum, Polygon, etc., Wimhöfer has already minted his first NFTs and is offering them for purchase on marketplaces such as Foundation, Rarible and OpenSea.
We ask: "When did you discover the topic of non-fungible tokens?" Wimhöfer: "In the middle of 2022 during the Corona lockdown, as an answer and an opportunity to show my art without being tied to real existing spaces. The spiritual mentor for this was Dr. Ulrike Lehmann, art historian and author of the text in the catalog Chaos and Order, Volume 1."
We ask Wimhöfer about his assessment of the importance of NFTs: "Do you think that with a little initiative and appropriate guidance, NFTs could not only provide profitable added value for many artists, but also protect works of art as certificates?" Wimhöfer: "Even the "Image-Art collecting society" has not yet accepted that works of art receive their clear stamp in the IPFS; I still see a lot of need for clarification here. Regardless of this, NFTs offer enormous and previously unknown opportunities for artists in the many different marketplaces* not only to present their works within, above and alongside the traditional art world but also to sell them. Professional guidance is recommended, as beginner's mistakes are difficult to correct afterwards."
With his NFTs, the authenticity of his corresponding works is simultaneously recorded in the chosen blockchain in an unforgeable manner for all time. A big advantage for buyers of his NFTs, because where it says Wimhöfer on it, it also has Wimhöfer in it - unchangeable!
Lifelong learning is not a dream program for Wimhöfer but a reality and so it is not surprising that he likes to share his knowledge and experience. Since 2010, he has been helping children and seniors to develop their creativity using painterly means as part of a holistic approach.
Some of his artistic activities and exhibitions:
- Art in the ice stadium, Düsseldorf;
- New flag for reunified Germany;
- Monument protection for Düsseldorf harbor hydrants;
- Exhibitions at the Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, Cabildo Insular de Fuerteventura, Centro Insular de Cultura, Lanzarote;
- Museo Lag-0-mar, Lanzarote;
- Kö-Galerie and Galleries Contrasts, Artwork and Merkelbach, Düsseldorf.
He is a member of the artists' association Malkasten, Düsseldorf. You can find the address and further details about his artistic work on the Internet at artwim.de
