Hannes Helmke

Hannes Helmke (born 10 May 1967 in Heidelberg) is a German sculptor creating bronze sculptures.

Life After an education in wood sculpture, Helmke attended postgraduate studies in free art at the Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Alfter which he completed in the summer of 1998. Since then Helmke has lived and worked as a freelance sculptor in Cologne. He spends the summer months on the North Sea island of Spiekeroog. All designs are created on Spiekeroog and implemented in bronze in Cologne.

Work

Helmke's artistic theme is the individual and his position in the world. Helmke's original inspiration was the long-drawn evening shadows of the human form. In recent years, Helmke's figures have changed. At first the feet were very big and the limbs were extremely long. Later the bodies became more realistic. For Helmke feet and legs represent the physical human being, whilst the upper body parts stand for the intellectual part. The vivid ears symbolize a connection with the world, the perceiving, as well as the physical big hands. With the absence of faces Helmke's desire for the greatest possible association of the viewer becomes clear.