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Sterzenbach is a painter who creates
self-willed dream figures (men, animals,
sculptures, rock formations, etc.). Strange
and bewitched creatures come into
existence, which defy description. Theese
magical, surrealistic images have a
suggestive effect on the spectator.
Sterzenbach about his practice: "I don´t
know theese creatures, before I see them
appearing on the paper or canvas. I am
myself often surprised about my own
creations. When I start a new picture I
don´t know what will happen - there is so
much - what happens". It is quite an own
world the artist has created in the last
twenty years. He speaks about "Interior
Views" in contrast to the "Exterior Views" -
realistic urban views, landscapes,
portraits, still life, etc. of his
surroundings. If you want to enter in this
dreamland you have to look over the
artist´s shoulder. He has developed
different techniques allowing him to
prepare the ground in such a manner that
he can "see" the figures easier who he
then slowly approaches. Either he uses a
bundle of ball pen, turning them between
his hands so that they let structures on
the paper in which he later on "sees" his
figures or, he uses the old technique of
frottage by rubbing with a black-lead
pencil (graphite) on a paper layed over
different wooden or metallic articles
found, or parts of a machine. Then he
puts the different fantastic figures
together, in the beginning without any
imagination of what is to come into
existence later on. This graphic art
interesting in itself is then conserved by
fixative, and finally completed in water
color or pastell. Other techniques like
decalcomany, imprimitation on canvas,
etc. are also the ground where interesting
structures appear which are assembled
by the artist to fantasy figures. Little faces
and forms, which Sterzenbach inserts in
the coarse structures, increase the
dreamlike surrealistic appearance of the
pictures. Sterzenbach´s works are made
in series, meaning many pictures are in
process simultaneously. The floor of his
studio is full of pictures in process. The
advantage to this proceedure is that he
can work continuously without waiting for
the process to dry. He slowly approaches
the figures which he "sees" in every
picture in a different way. Whith every
stroke or color a figure emerges, finally
comprehensible to the imagination. Then
the artist begins carefully to enforce, to
tone down or to change the shapes
forms. It is still a process of something,
which is controlled consciously or
subconsciously. A concrete imagination
would disturbe the process of
developement. This way something
independent is coming into existence.
The titles are mostly short and suggestive
like "birdmen", "Unpenetrable", "Agitated",
"Oppression", etc. Theese titles often
reflect or project a sensation, the
spectator may experience by regarding
the pictures. Spectators of theese
pictures can react quite in a different way:
either they feel captured or oppressed.
Others are affected by the mysticism of
the pictures. In any case comprehension
and understanding should not be put in
the foreground. It is the artist`s own world,
where the spectator uses his own
imagination to interpret what he sees.

City View of Berlin-Charlottenburg