Uwe Kersten Artist Statement

FROM GRAINS TO GRANITE MITE
1939-1945 Born in 1940 and spent my first years in the former East Germany (DDR). This has resulted in an uneasy and constant threat to life during the war and afterwards. Bombing of the city and creeping into the basement at the fly alarms created deep feelings of anxiety. An eternal quest for grain on the fields for a living, etc., are memories that left strong impressions that affected my vision and thoughts today

1950 fled my father for political reasons to West Berlin and later in Stade in West Germany was our family united again. There, I finished my training with a journeyman's certificate as a decorator and designer.

1960 after two years as at a design store in Hamburg, I moved to Sweden and Stockholm to avoid military service. Affected by Konrad Adenauer, the first postwar German chancellor, who said the key words "Nie wieder ein Deutscher mit Gewehr".

1961-63, I was Head of dressers for Hennes (Today Hennes & Mauritz) in Gothenburg and Southern Sweden. And  from 1963 to 1967 I realized my wish and I went in to the Industrial Art School in Gothenburg (HDK)  for 4 years that ended with a degree: "Master of Fine Art."

1967-1985 I worked as an Art Director and Designer and advertising consultant. Among the works I've done the design and brand campaigns for BK Häcken crest and the Gothia Cup International Football Tournament.

1981, I had my own studio in Gothenburg for painting and drawing and printing my lithographic arts on a old Lithopress for stone printings.
I bought my first house in Lundal in the Sotenäs municipality and after a few years I lived there permanently. The art took over more and more over my other business.

1985 ended my academic career with a BA. degree: "Bachelor of Arts", University of Gothenburg

1990 - 2000 I devoted myself to sculpture work for exhibitions and public surroundings.  At the same time, I developed a workshop for lithographic printing in Bovallstrand where held training courses. In 1997 I create the "Culture Stop Bohuslän", an information project for artists and cultural institutions in Northern Bohuslän.

2000-2011 More and more I came to devote myself to stone sculpture. I have held several exhibitions of large and small sculptures as well as public orders.. I was responsible for the KKV-Bohuslän International Stone Scholarship 2003 -2004 along with Pål Svensson and Jan Bergh.

I have attended several sculpture symposiums in China and Holland. The most memorable is Yuzi Paradise in Guilin, where I made my biggest piece "Balance", which now stands in a sculpture park in Shanghai (SSP).