Manuela Mordhorst
Germany
lebensbilder@manuela-mordhorst.de
www.manuela-mordhorst.de
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For many years, I have been deeply engaged in creating worlds of memory, which find expression both in paintings and in objects made from various materials such as paper, fibres, fungi, lichens, wood and clay. My works on paper, in particular, have become increasingly significant in recent years and enable me to create fascinating three-dimensional pieces. These works are usually characterised by social as well as deeply personal themes, which may appear critical at first glance and engage intensively with the lives of people in our society.
Although many of my artworks are inspired by the beauty of nature, the exploration of human nature remains a central focus. Thus, there are works that explicitly correspond with nature and which I also place within natural settings. The question of which spaces give rise to memories, emotions, encounters and experiences lies at the heart of my work. Each piece is an invitation to reflect on our own existence, on connections, and on what binds us together as human beings. Through this art form, I seek to convey a sense of the timeless and the fleeting moments of life. Ultimately, it is these memories and emotions that form the foundation of my artistic practice and are intended to inspire reflection.
My working techniques have been shaped by my father, who was a restorer of textiles and books, as well as a master bookbinder and master gilder in Germany, and who introduced me to these techniques and a deep love for the various materials from an early age. Paper, textiles and, in particular, gold leaf have always fascinated me and later became part of my paintings; I almost always applied hand-made paper to the canvas to create textures, whilst gold leaf was often used as a highlight or as a central narrative element; I always used fibres and textiles very sparingly, in a rather subtle way, barely visible.
To this day, my fascination with paper and gilding remains, as does a deep longing to explore and experiment, seeking new or different ways to use various materials and techniques.
At the moment, I am primarily exploring the structures of memory and connections to one’s own ancestors. Following my father’s death in 2025, a deep, yearning desire arose within me to create vessels of memory. To reflect on the connections, on the influence parents have on their children, what they pass on to us, and the themes they instil and cultivate within us. As well as their own interests, vocations and desires. What remains when a loved one dies, what do they leave behind, and how does this affect me on a deeply personal level? This period of mourning following the loss awakened new energy within me to engage more deeply with the theme of loss and, to some extent, to use the medium of paper to give my grief a face that is equally full of hope.
Member of BBK Bremen | Gedok NDSHannover | IAPMA
Please follow my artblog: Artblog Manuela Mordhorst
Although many of my artworks are inspired by the beauty of nature, the exploration of human nature remains a central focus. Thus, there are works that explicitly correspond with nature and which I also place within natural settings. The question of which spaces give rise to memories, emotions, encounters and experiences lies at the heart of my work. Each piece is an invitation to reflect on our own existence, on connections, and on what binds us together as human beings. Through this art form, I seek to convey a sense of the timeless and the fleeting moments of life. Ultimately, it is these memories and emotions that form the foundation of my artistic practice and are intended to inspire reflection.
My working techniques have been shaped by my father, who was a restorer of textiles and books, as well as a master bookbinder and master gilder in Germany, and who introduced me to these techniques and a deep love for the various materials from an early age. Paper, textiles and, in particular, gold leaf have always fascinated me and later became part of my paintings; I almost always applied hand-made paper to the canvas to create textures, whilst gold leaf was often used as a highlight or as a central narrative element; I always used fibres and textiles very sparingly, in a rather subtle way, barely visible.
To this day, my fascination with paper and gilding remains, as does a deep longing to explore and experiment, seeking new or different ways to use various materials and techniques.
At the moment, I am primarily exploring the structures of memory and connections to one’s own ancestors. Following my father’s death in 2025, a deep, yearning desire arose within me to create vessels of memory. To reflect on the connections, on the influence parents have on their children, what they pass on to us, and the themes they instil and cultivate within us. As well as their own interests, vocations and desires. What remains when a loved one dies, what do they leave behind, and how does this affect me on a deeply personal level? This period of mourning following the loss awakened new energy within me to engage more deeply with the theme of loss and, to some extent, to use the medium of paper to give my grief a face that is equally full of hope.
Member of BBK Bremen | Gedok NDSHannover | IAPMA
Please follow my artblog: Artblog Manuela Mordhorst
