Born in Waiblingen (Germany) in 1977, Peter Böhnisch studied from 1999 to 2005 at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Karlsruhe with Anselm Reyle and Andreas Slominski.
After his studies, the artist initially devoted himself to large-format drawings, which were increasingly replaced by tempera, wax crayon, pastels or acrylics on canvas. For some years now, Böhnisch has focused his artistic practice to the medium of sand. He has been presenting his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions in international institutions, art associations and museums, including in South Korea, the US and various countries in Europe.
With his sand paintings, Peter Böhnisch explores the possibilities of painting beyond oil on canvas. There is something almost alchemical about his creative process: different powders are mixed together, substances react with and on each other, harden or break up and, when combined, produce entirely new components. The texture is sometimes reminiscent of archaeological artefacts and fossilised shells, static mementos of time.
In his enigmatic scenes, the artist combines traditional pictorial themes with contemporary elements - caritas, saints, and baroque depictions meet postmodern elements such as space travel and current everyday objects. The beauty of the motifs often contrasts with the coarseness of the surface, while humour and meaningfulness balance each other out.
Böhnisch's images open a curtain to allow a glimpse into the dreams that are hidden behind it. In doing so, however, they serve to do much more than merely document visions and thoughts; they gently break through the barrier to reveal what really lies behind it. The rough material offers Böhnisch both support and assurance, while at the same time allowing the image to remain free and untamed.
