Attila Wittmer

Attilla Wittmer, born 1990 in Lucerne, currently lives and works mainly in his studio in Brooklin, NY and in Vienna. In Attila Wittmer’s works, the head becomes the central means of expression, a dynamic, constantly changing vessel for the entire range of human emotions. The head is never just a static image, but rather a symbol for the entire body, the entire world, the entire existence – permeated by pleasure and suffering.

The urgency with which emotions flow inwards or explode outwards is shown in his drawings as a cathartic process in which the inner life pushes outwards, be it through openings, cracks or fractures. It vomits, splinters and bursts – a visual manifesto of inner chaos.

For Attila Wittmer, the head is not just an anatomical element, but a catalyser and mediator for feelings that would otherwise find no expression. The energy of anger, hate, love and powerlessness is channelled through the paper, and the lines and colours act as valves for suppressed or overwhelming emotions. This work is not only an expression of personal catharsis, but also an honest exploration of universal human feelings that affect us all.

His work is characterised by an intense need for authenticity and directness – a confrontation with the often repressed facets of the human condition. By exploring the limits of what can be depicted, he creates works that are both provocative and deeply intimate. They challenge the viewer to confront the dark, raw and unembellished aspects of life, while at the same time celebrating the liberating power of the artistic gesture. The drawing becomes a metaphor for the incessant movement of emotions – it shrieks, splashes and flows, leaving traces on the paper of a state of mind that immediately touches the viewer.