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Oliver Schäfer

@olisinst

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Artist 🎨 | Painter of Fearless Women 💪🏼 |
Selling my art worldwide 🌍
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The year 2024 is already four weeks old and I am back from my social media hiatus. I spent the first days of the new year planning and organizing new events. There will be three, maybe even four, new exhibitions in 2024. I am currently working on new paintings that I started a year ago, but never finished and I am also working on my own website where people can get all the informations about my work and the women I painted so far. There is a quiet but firm voice inside of me that says 2024 could be a scary and dangerous year, especially with all the ongoing conflicts everywhere. This voice has numbed me many times in the past, but I won't allow it any longer. Instead, I focus more on all the fearless women that I painted or still going to paint in the future, and learn from them. Whether it's for 5 hours or for 15 minutes - the days on which I am creative are always better days. And knowing that I can bring people together with my work gives me hope as well. So it's up to all of us how this year is going to be. I will try my best to make it a more colorful year, with more kindness and compassion. 🎨 How about you? 📸: @ninne.89 #art #artist #portrait #fearlesswomen #selfie #thoughts #future #instagood #photooftheday #littlemonster #irisapfel #selfietime #fyp #germanartist #oliverschäfer #confidence #courage #guy #dude #hopeful #instastyle #fy #selfietime #empathy #artvsartist #becreative #instaart #kunst #kunstausstellung by @olisinst
65
3 years ago
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Is this AI? No. These photos are real. This is how beautiful our world can look, without heavy editing or the help of artificial intelligence. Yet, it is a question we find ourselves asking daily now, because AI is everywhere. Artists, musicians, designers, writers... many are already losing commissions as their work is replaced by AI. What about you? How is AI currently affecting your daily life? We live in times where large companies can take other people's knowledge, skills, and ideas without asking, only to sell them as "artificial intelligence." But where does that leave the human element? I am convinced that this process could be shaped in a fair and human-centric way. Yet, we lack the necessary rules and societal frameworks. Policymakers are too slow. Worldwide. My view is this: using a microwave doesn't make me a master chef. Similarly, generating art with AI doesn't make me an artist. I am simply reheating what others created before me. Incidentally, art is incredibly valuable in these times of growing loneliness and societal division. Exhibitions, concerts, and readings bring people together, creating spaces for connection and exchange. AI can never replace that human interaction. AI can be a helpful tool, but it can also be a weapon. People shouldn't be replaced by it; there need to be boundaries. What are your thoughts on this? How has AI changed your daily life? 📸 @ninne.89 #art #Kunst #photography #isthisai by @olisinst
32
25 days ago
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An open letter to the President of the German Bundestag Dear Madam President, dear Ms Klöckner, on Monday, 10 August, I criticised a post on your Instagram profile @juliakloeckner. It was your back-to-school post, which had evidently been generated with AI. As an artist and as a citizen, I left a comment that I still stand behind today. Not insulting. Not defamatory. Shortly afterwards, my comment had been deleted and my account was blocked. There are two questions at stake here. The first is the use of AI in public communication. I personally believe it is wrong for elected officials and public authorities to fall back on AI for social media posts, posters, flyers or invitations instead of commissioning people to do the work. The cultural sector has been dealing with funding cuts for years, and many creative professionals are additionally losing commissions because AI is supposedly cheaper. Is this what we want? In one of the largest economies in the world, do we really have to save money there of all places? And does that calculation even add up in the end? The second question is how criticism is handled. Since then, numerous people have told me that the same thing happened to them. At least one further case has been publicly reported. Deleting criticism runs counter, in my view, to the spirit of our democratic culture of debate. In a democracy it is our civic duty to speak up. We do not have to agree – but criticism must be allowed to stand. On 11 August, the head of the Office of the President of the Bundestag wrote to me saying that you would be glad to discuss artificial intelligence and creative professionals with me. I did not reply at first, because at that point I was still blocked. The block has since been lifted. That is why I am getting in touch now. I would be glad to exchange views with you and consider this my democratic duty. One condition matters to me, however: I ask that the other blocks be lifted as well, insofar as the comments in question did not constitute insults or otherwise actionable statements. This issue concerns all of us and needs a broad public debate. A debate by democratic rules and on equal terms. 📷 by @ninne.89 by @olisinst
141
2 months ago
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After being blocked by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, I received countless messages. Many share my criticism of Ms. Klöckner and tell me that the same thing happened to them: comments deleted, accounts blocked. This is about the artists and cultural workers in this country. AI models have been and continue to be fed the work of millions of people without anyone ever being asked. Is that fair? How do we, as a society, want to deal with this? How do we use AI? I myself am a freelance artist, and with my series "Fearless Women," I advocate for democracy, equality, and diversity. I try to actively and positively shape our society in a time when so much is drifting apart. I am clearly at risk of poverty in old age if I continue this work. Many colleagues are in the same boat. Nevertheless, I am taking a stand, even though it would be much easier to duck and cover. Ms. Klöckner is also my Bundestag President. When I, as a citizen, criticize one of my representatives and my criticism is subsequently deleted and I'm blocked, that's a real red flag for me. My expectation of politicians and authorities is that they are role models. That they are aware of people's everyday lives and take criticism seriously, instead of ignoring it or even making it invisible. Do we want to live in a world where everything around us is AI-generated? I want real authors, real voice actors, real actors, real graphic designers, real artists. With all their strengths and weaknesses. These are the people who make the grayness of everyday life a little more colorful. We need a societal debate on this topic. I can no longer reach Ms. Klöckner. But there are so many incredibly dedicated, intelligent people out there who give me hope. I wrote this for them. 📷 by @eva_frommeklute.fotografie 📷 by @ninne.89 #art #kunst #statement by @olisinst
196
2 months ago
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Today I was blocked by the President of the German Bundestag. What happened? Julia Klöckner posted a completely AI-generated image of herself with children to mark the start of the school year. I criticized this in a comment. A few minutes later: comment deleted, account blocked. Whether she typed it herself or her social media team is irrelevant. It's her account, her name, her responsibility. And she's not a local politician: the President of the Bundestag holds the second-highest office in the country, according to protocol. An office that stands for impartiality and a culture of debate. To the point: AI image generators only work because they have been trained on millions of works by photographers, illustrators, and designers. These are skilled professionals who make a living from this work. These are precisely the people who are now being replaced for quick, cheap posts. The message to creative professionals in this country is clear: first, your work is replaced by AI, and then anyone who speaks out about it is silenced. As an artist in this country who stands up for democracy, equality and diversity, I will not accept this. 📷 by @eva_frommeklute.fotografie #art #kunst #statement by @olisinst
1k
2 months ago
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Bei diesen heißen Tagen ist ein Besuch im Museum vielleicht genau das Richtige. Mein Tipp: die Ausstellung „Fearless Women“ in der Gedenkstätte Point Alpha. Oliver Schäfer zeigt eindrucksvolle Porträts mutiger Frauen wie Sophie Scholl, Anne Frank und vielen weiteren Persönlichkeiten, die für Freiheit, Gleichberechtigung und eine bessere Welt eingestanden sind. Noch bis zum 15. September könnt ihr die Ausstellung besuchen. Lasst mich gerne wissen, wie ihr sie findet! #fearlesswomen#pointalpha#hitze#vorort taken in Point Alpha by @olisinst
1
2 months ago
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A few days ago I had the pleasure of teaching my painting workshop again. Sixteen wonderfully creative women took part, and I was able to support each of them with their own creative projects. It was my third year in a row, and by now we have grown into a really lovely group. What matters most to me is helping my participants become more confident and courageous in handling their painting materials. In the end, I want them to be able to recognize themselves in their work. Once again, I was truly impressed by the wonderful and diverse results. Alongside painting, there were also courses in woodworking, pottery and papier-mâché. With the weather on our side, we spent four creative days together, and everything came together in a big exhibition at the end, where all the finished pieces were on display. A heartfelt thank you to the organizers, without whom an event like this would not be possible, and thank you for the trust in my expertise. I would love to see you all again next year! #art #creativity #artworkshop #kreativtage #rüthen by @olisinst
16
2 months ago
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In 2024, I painted Yayoi Kusama for my Fearless Women series. Last week, I finally got to experience her life's work in person at the major retrospective at @museumludwig in Cologne. The exhibition takes you on a journey through her entire artistic life. You can literally watch her find her voice: dots and nets appear in her earliest works, long before they became the trademarks the whole world knows today. Kusama, born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, has experienced hallucinations since childhood. Visions of endless patterns covering everything around her. Instead of being consumed by them, she turned them into art. Since 1977, she has voluntarily lived in a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo and walks to her studio across the street every day, still painting in her 90s. She has said that without art, she wouldn't have survived. That is exactly what makes her a Fearless Woman: she never hid her struggles. She transformed them into a universe of her own and invited all of us in. #art #yayoikusama #museumludwig #fearlesswomen #MLxKusama taken in Museum Ludwig Köln by @olisinst
34
2 months ago
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"What makes these women fearless?" Every woman I've painted met power, structures, and a*use built to break her. None of them broke. They stayed brave, kept their integrity, and went their own way. That's the whole series in one sentence. Opening moment with moderator Sabine Räth. 'Fearless Women' on view at Point Alpha, July 2 - September 15, 2026. #fearlesswomen #WomenWhoInspire #PortraitArt #PointAlpha #ContemporaryArt taken in Point Alpha by @olisinst
29
3 months ago
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What an opening! I'm still overwhelmed by all the wonderful people I had the pleasure of meeting at Point Alpha. My art has always been about bringing people together, and that's exactly what happened yesterday. More than 150 courageous people came together and gave each other hope and support. Each of my paintings had a patron who supported the exhibition and shared her personal story with us. From a 10-year-old girl to an 87-year-old woman, everyone was there, and everyone was welcome! My thanks go to everyone who made this evening possible and sent such a powerful message to the world! The exhibition 'Fearless Women' is on view at the Point Alpha Memorial until September 15th. Thanks to: @pointalpha_foundation @manuela_henkel @rosenberg.erika @bine.raeth @wak_frauenunion @partnerschaft_demokratie_wak @andrearuebsam @lenestegie @ortrudtornow @ulrikejary @dianaherbstreuth @stefaniem_klee #art #fearlesswomen #pointalpha #artexhibition #fearless taken in Point Alpha by @olisinst
38
3 months ago
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Mit einer Vernissage wird am 2. Juli um 18 Uhr die Kunstausstellung „Fearless Women“ eröffnet. Der Abend bietet Vorträge, Live-Musik und Gelegenheiten zum Austausch.Die Werke sind bei uns bis zum 15. September zu sehen. Der Künstler Oliver Schäfer präsentiert in 15 Portraits mutige Frauen, die als Inspiration dienen und Hoffnung schenken. Die Schirmherrschaft der Ausstellung übernimmt die renommierte Journalistin und Biografin Prof. Erika Rosenberg-Band.Das Ausstellungsprojekt „Fearless Women“ wird von der Point Alpha Stiftung in länderübergreifender Kooperation mit der Frauen Union Wartburgkreis sowie der Frauen Union aus dem Landkreis Fulda organisiert. Gefördert wird das Projekt durch die Partnerschaft für Demokratie Wartburgkreis im Rahmen des Bundesprogramms „Demokratie leben!“ und des Thüringer Landesprogramms „Denk bunt“. @partnerschaft_demokratie_wak @wak_frauenunion @fu_hessen @frauenunion.kvfulda @olisinst #PointAlpha #Geisa #Kunst #Frauen #Women #Denkbunt #Wartburgkreis #Fulda #Hessen #Thüringen #Inspiration #portraitmalerei #Demokratieleben taken in Gedenkstätte Point Alpha by @olisinst
8
3 months ago
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New exhibition! On July 2nd, 2026, I'm opening my portrait exhibition "Fearless Women" at the US Camp of the Point Alpha Memorial. Point Alpha is a former Cold War border post that today stands for freedom and the courage to overcome division. A fitting place for my portraits of women who shaped their societies and overcame boundaries with courage and humanity. The exhibition is organized by the Point Alpha Foundation in cross-border cooperation with the Women's Union (Frauen Union) of the Wartburgkreis and Fulda districts, under the patronage of journalist and biographer Prof. Erika Rosenberg-Band, internationally known for her work on Oskar and Emilie Schindler. 15 of my paintings will be on view through September 15th. The opening on July 2nd starts at 6pm - admission free. Come join us! #art #fearlesswomen #exhibition #pointalpha #artshow taken in Point Alpha by @olisinst
22
3 months ago
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