ARTIST STATEMENT 

EN

In my work, I engage with the philosophy of pain. This encompasses a philosophical exploration of pain, the categorization and differentiation of pain, and the development of new formulations and definitions within a pain theory I have established. The thesis that underpins my artistic work is:

"That pain is the key to human development.“ In my work, I delve into this, primarily exploring pain in a physical context.
My own life story is the foundation of my work, and the theories and thoughts I have developed provide a subjective perspective on pain. Friedrich Nietzsche often discussed pain in the context of his philosophy of overcoming and
self-transformation. For him, pain was not only inevitable but also a necessary condition for growth and development. In my work, I engage with my personal impressions and reflect on them through my art. In my personal and artistic exploration of the theory of pain, I first focus on formulating pain for myself.  I ask myself the question: What is pain?
This can be scientifically answered through the IASP = „International Association for the Study of Pain“:
„According to the definition by the World Pain Organization (IASP), pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.“ The term „sensory experience“ refers to how pain can be perceived as burning, stabbing, throbbing, or tearing. The term „emotional experience“ addresses the emotional aspects of pain, which can be described as agonizing, torturous, or exhausting.
These two aspects of the experience of pain are inseparably linked.
From an evolutionary perspective, pain is among the earliest, most frequent, and most profound experiences of every human being. Pain is vital for survival - despite all the suffering it can cause. From a physical standpoint, pain represents a life-preserving biological response to harmful stimuli, even when tissue damage has not yet occurred.
Pain is a universal human sensation, comparable to hunger or thirst, as well as heat or cold, and is an integral part of our sensory system with which we perceive our environment and ourselves. Research explains that pain stimuli, such as an injury to the hand, generate electrical impulses. These impulses travel along specific nerve fibers, similar to electrical cables, through the spinal cord to various centers in the brain. There is no single pain center in the brain; rather, the perception of pain arises from the activation of interconnected areas.

DE