About the nature of reality and the essence of being
We recommend the German artist Corinna Zieleke, who offers a new and comprehensive understanding of a positive worldview, framed as a philosophical paradigm. A monograph with catalogue raisonné of her editions, will be published shortly. She is an experienced artist and psychotherapist, which makes it able to present a new perspective on a 'wonderful world' through her paintings and editions —a concept that has long inspired and fascinated artists. This paradigm of beauty, harmony, and magic recurs across various epochs and styles in art history, always shaped by cultural, societal, and individual contexts.
In times of societal upheaval and epochal conflicts, such as those involving Russia and the Middle East, focusing on a 'wonderful world' may initially seem out of place. However, how can we find new direction, endure such times emotionally, and strive for a more peaceful world, if we do not also acknowledge the beauty of the world, which is increasingly slipping away from us?
The artist views it as her duty to immerse herself in the world’s wondrous beauty, the fleeting moments, and the surprisingly captivating aspects of life. She also feels a responsibility to identify and reject the negative and the horrific, seeing them as elements to be excluded and condemned. As we become more attuned to the wonders around us, the negative, destructive, and perverse aspects of the world become even more evident. For the artist, this heightened awareness is essential for rejecting evil, horror, and the devastation of humanity, its spirit, wildlife, and nature. Learning through beauty—understanding what truly matters—lies at the core of her work.
In ancient mythologies and religious concepts, references to a world of infinite harmony can be found. Greek and Roman art often depicts divine scenes and celestial landscapes intended to transport the viewer into a supernatural realm. Renaissance masterpieces like Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus or Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa embody a world shaped by beauty and perfection. Throughout history, artists have continually sought to capture and interpret their vision of the sublime within the world. The Romanticism of the 19th century, spurred by the discovery of southern lands and the exploration of remote regions, gave rise to a wealth of landscape paintings that presented nature as a reflection of divine order and a source of profound fascination. Artists such as Caspar David Friedrich and J.M.W. Turner aimed to capture the spiritual dimension of nature, offering viewers a transcendent experience, particularly in Turner's more abstract areas of his work.
In modern art, the paradigm of a 'wonderful world' endures, though often in more subtle forms. The focus often shifts to the strange and extraordinary—worlds that transcend classical aesthetics, evoking a mysterious fascination governed by their own unique laws. The unusual and extraordinary, frequently imbued with a sense of mystery or magic, take center stage. Yet, the notion of a wonderful or wondrous world in art can be seen as an expression of humanity's longing for beauty, transcendence, and spiritual experience. It embodies the human desire for an idealized reality, where imagination is free to roam, and for phenomena that lie hidden beyond the ordinary, waiting to be rediscovered. In a world plagued by conflict, injustice, and suffering, art offers not only an escape but also a wellspring of positive experiences, nurturing hope and joy
The concept of a 'wonderful world' thus plays a vital yet often underestimated role in contemporary times, where political, social, and ecological disruptions abound. The didactic element subtly associated with this concept promotes the idea of 'learning through beauty.' In an era characterised by uncertainty, complexity, and the pressures of daily life—particularly in a time when an overwhelming flood of information and misinformation from countless media sources bombards people—theIn remains a necessary task for artists and a beacon for viewers. Corinna Zieleke interprets this theme of world observation in new and innovative ways as she addresses issues such as environmental destruction, social injustice, and political conflicts, using the idea of beauty as a means for reflection, transformation, and healing. She does so in a unique manner—and she succeeds. Her concept of micro- and macrocosm offers her a source of inspiration and a way to visualise complex themes and connections within a rather minimalistic concept. Essentially, the microcosm represents a smaller, detailed version of a larger system, while the macrocosm refers to the larger, all-encompassing structure. Understanding the interplay between microcosm and macrocosm helps her grasp the complexities of both smaller and larger systems. In her work, she intertwines personal and universal experiences, raising awareness of the interactions between humanity and nature, the individual and society.
Zieleke’s art is fundamentally abstract, drawing inspiration from the micro- and macrocosms of landscapes, seascapes, and celestial moments. Her works, shaped by personal experiences in nature—whether on Fuerteventura, Sylt, or in Monet’s gardens in Giverny, Normandy—emerge from deeply subjective perceptions, capturing the subtlest gradations of color. These paintings reflect the essence of fleeting, irreplaceable moments, occasionally evoking microscopic associations with striking precision. By shifting her gaze from the minute to the vast, Zieleke offers a unique perspective on the world's interconnected processes. This approach explores the relationship between the individual and the whole, highlighting the connections between various scales of existence. The belief that the universe operates in interconnected harmony is often seen as an expression of cosmic order, where similar structures and principles emerge in both the macrocosm (the universe, planets) and the microcosm (atoms, subatomic particles), pointing to a fundamental unity woven through the fabric of the world.
In her exploration of the relationship between micro- and macrocosm, Zieleke raises fundamental questions about the nature of reality. Is the universe on a grand scale merely an extension of the structures we observe on a smaller scale, or are there inherent differences? This line of inquiry could lead to philosophical and metaphysical considerations.
The artist embraces a holistic worldview, where the actions of the individual affect the whole, potentially giving rise to an ecological or cosmic ethic. Her work is not merely a depiction of realities; it aims to make the world—abstract and elusive as it may be—visible and approachable for the viewer. Through diaphanously abstract paintings, created with bold gestures and autonomous color pourings, she embraces the principle of chance. In this way, the artist makes the process of creation itself—a provoked action and a chance encounter—tangible. Both her paintings and graphic editions invite viewers to look beyond the visible, engage with existential questions, and be guided by positive emotions.
Zieleke's spontaneous and unbound approach to art, combined with her technical virtuosity and boundless imagination, results in compositions that are both surprising and consistently harmonious. The abstract forms and colors she creates appear fluid and almost organic, prompting viewers to reconsider the boundaries between painting and photography.
Her work also evokes the practices of other contemporary artists, yet in her own distinctive way, Corinna Zieleke expands the contemporary canon. She emphasizes that, in a world increasingly marked by conflict, division, and crisis, art can serve as a bridge. By revealing the naturally beautiful, the fleetingly perceptible, and the wondrous, she invites people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to discover, inspire, and encourage one another.
Zieleke’s work goes beyond merely appreciating or enjoying beauty. She seeks to raise awareness and underscores what is lost when we neglect to preserve beauty in a vulnerable world—particularly the inexplicable and the wondrous. Her vision, though rooted in real yet not concrete ideas, serves as a call to conscious action and understanding, and to the protection of what is truly beautiful. In this way, her art helps us see the wonderful not merely as a utopia devoid of historical and cultural context, but as a possible reality—one that can be shaped and realised.
KPM | ArtForum Editions (isbn 978-3-910694-07-1):
Hg.| ed. Peter Merten & Leonardo Safiriou
Corinna Zieleke
Eine wunderbare Welt | A wonderful world
Verzeichnis der Editionen | Catalogue of Editions
Limited Edition, signed copy (32 €/36 USD) plus postage 6,90 € / 12,90 USD
Please (pre-)order at: info(at)artforum-culture-foundation.0rg