Carsten Weitzmann has created his own universe with which to interpret the world. He created twenty protagonists, his "figures", each with different character traits. Each of these people represent their own characteristic principle. Most of the figures of this universe are ambivalent - each character comprises negative as well as positive qualities. For example, the young philosopher stands for the principle of analysis and open-mindedness. "The restriction to twenty characters offers endless possibilities of describing the world. My characters have brought me a great deal of artistic freedom", says the artist.
The exhibition "Das Personal aus dem toten Winkel" is composed of drawings, oil paintings, and a monumental mural. The wall installation was designed especially for the exhibition space. The entire cast of characters recur in various combinations and modes of interaction throughout the artist's pictures.
Carsten Weitzmann captures moments from human life in his anecdotal pictures, which are playful attempts at interpreting our world.
The curious characters operate partly in disturbing poses and irritating situations. "There is irony and satire in my work. One shouldn't take everything too seriously. After all, the world itself is only made bearable by humour." For example, a man stands on the flowing hair of a giantess, ironically named "Gebärmutter" (Uterus) by the artist, who acts as a provocative symbol of all-creating nature. His world of images and characters doesn't originate from an analysis of specific situations or events, but rather from the empathy that Carsten Weitzmann musters in relation to our reality.
Carsten Weitzmann was born in Erfurt in 1961 and has been working as an independent artist since 1989. The collaboration between the Jarmuschek + Partner gallery and Weitzmann began exactly ten years ago. His work has most recently been displayed at the Fridericianum gallery in Kassel, at the Kunstverein Potsdam, and in the Erfurt Kunsthaus. Carsten Weitzmann lives and works in Erfurt.