Der Erlkönig 1993

Editor: Let’s spend some time gazing at Hanno Karlhuber's 1993 piece, "Der Erlkönig." From what I can gather, the medium appears to be acrylic on canvas, but there's a texture that suggests oil pastel. The title grabbed my attention – and the interior-of-a-car perspective gives it a rather eerie and suspenseful feel. What's your take on this unique perspective? Curator: You know, titles are whispers, sometimes misleading, sometimes profound. "Erlkönig," a figure from Goethe's poem, spells doom... death riding in the night. Here, the car is our steed, headlights our anxious eyes cutting through darkness. It’s claustrophobic, isn't it? The steering wheel almost seems to cage us, the endless road ahead hypnotic. Do you feel that feeling of relentless momentum? Editor: Absolutely! I see how the forward motion combined with the dark color palette and interior car frame amplifies the eerie and almost sinister title association. Curator: I see the entire image as an abstract painting because of the way that Hanno seems to use a studio composition perspective to take on a number of themes related to driving at night and death and despair! I wonder whether this might be a personal representation of an emotional trauma expressed with paint and car dashboards as props. The mind wanders to automobile accidents... I see darkness turning a routine experience into something profoundly unnerving. Is it not fascinating that art can be that mirror? Editor: It really is! It makes me consider everyday moments differently, looking beyond the surface. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Perhaps this 'ride' will influence your next piece? Who knows where inspiration will steer you.