Digital artist Thomas Von Klettenberg launches first exhibit in Asia

DIGITAL pop artist and co-founder of the Kunstschalter Art Group in Berlin, Thomas Von Klettenberg collects “fingerprints” and weaves them into his own impressions of the world around him. He started his dalliance with digital art when the iPad first came out in 2010, and was inspired by another artist’s exhibit in bringing his digital art out of the device and into galleries.

Trust Me — I’m Crazy, Von Klettenberg’s first exhibit in Asia, opened July 17, Thursday, at The Qube Gallery. His artworks that seem to have explored all facets of the color spectrum were on full display that day and took the viewers on a trippy ride that thankfully had no consequences except joy and wonder. Though created on a digital medium, his landscape artworks are detailed and scenic, giving the viewers an almost transcendent experience.

The process of creating his work involves more than one medium. Von Klettenberg first creates his pieces on an iPad or iPhone, transfers them to several photo programs, then has them printed directly onto acryl-glass and covered with an alu-dibond plate at the back. Each artwork is printed only once, making it one of a kind.

Known also as Thomas Hackenberg, he is a television presenter, comedian, and actor in Germany; Thomas Von Klettenberg is his artistic alter-ego. The exhibit is described to be a travelling exhibit. According to Von Klettenberg, “the idea is to bring these works back to the place where they were born.”

As to why he chose Cebu, he says, “I grew up in Mexico with all its colors and joy of life and a lot of it reminds me of Cebu. When I am here in Cebu, I feel like I’m traveling back to my childhood, and I love that feeling – the feeling of being at home.” (PR)