The Topography of Memories
Location: Gallery Milmar de Sparcice
Date: permanent exhibition
In my work, I embark on a search for the inner landscapes of human existence – those fleeting spaces between memory, imagination, and transformation. The works currently on display in the gallery are from the series "Topography of Memories." They are intended as a visual journey through emotional transitions and personal resonance spaces.
About the exhibition
Inspired by various places and experiences, Jochen Ulmer captures the colors, shapes, and even scents of these locations. It is evident that different elements of these memories are brought back to life under the masterful dance of the artist's brush, transforming pale surfaces of white canvases into inviting playgrounds of human experiences and expressions of collective existential joy. Through the optical illusion of dancing shapes and colors, the artist succeeds in creating otherworldly landscapes, flying dance floors, and dreamy moments of breathtaking festivity. He manages to seek out these spicy moments, like a child capturing the perfect combination of shapes and colors at these kaleidoscopic festivities.
After completing a newborn artwork, the search for the next inspiration begins, just like the search for a new love. The two processes of searching for inspiration and love are similar; they can hurt and rob you of sleep, leading to nothing, followed by numerous accusations and disappointments. Ulmer consciously enters this realm of mixed feelings and finally manages to experience a spiritual blossoming with each new painting. Ulmer knows that creativity is his love and his cross, and he humbly agrees to belong to it. The passion for creation is central to Ulmer's life.
Dr. Tamara Hovhannisyan, Gallerist and Poet
"Through abstraction, I don't strive for distance from reality, but rather a deeper, radically subjective engagement with it. My paintings therefore represent not geographical locations, but landscapes of consciousness—fragmentary, multi-layered, and deeply personal. They are places of insight, places where past, present, and future meet, enabling us to rediscover and understand ourselves."
Foto: Juliane Ulmer
About the artist
For Jochen Ulmer, born in Stuttgart in 1968, science and art are inextricably linked – two sides of the same coin that together enable a deeper understanding of our existence. Early on, he was fascinated by the question of "what holds the world together at its core." Inspired by Goethe's Faust and his profound engagement with natural sciences, he initially pursued a career as a scientist. However, parallel to his analytical work, he developed an intense, emotional connection to art that never left him.
About 30 years ago, Jochen opened his first box of oil paints, a moment that had a lasting impact on him. With oil painting, he discovered a form of expression that allowed him to capture inner images and memories on canvas. This deep connection led him to develop his own technique, which he calls "Topography of Memories." Here, he combines expressive colors with overpainting, leaving old layers visible and thus creating an exciting tightrope walk between abstraction and reality.
His works are visual meditations on memory, history, and identity, allowing viewers to reflect on their own experiences and find personal meaning within them. Numerous exhibitions, including a significant solo exhibition at Stuttgart 2024, affirmed his path.
Today, Jochen Ulmer's work receives international recognition and is valued by art historians and collectors alike for its powerful and emotional expressiveness. His paintings, which are already successfully represented in galleries, stand for authentic painting that comes deeply from the soul.
Jochen Ulmer lives and works in Stuttgart.
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