Christoph Oberdorfer was born in St. Veit (Austria) and currently lives in Klagenfurt, a city in Austria. He regularly travels by train to his studio in the countryside to paint. When he is working on a series, he withdraws there for several weeks in order to concentrate fully on his work. Christoph has been drawing since his early childhood and originally wanted to paint portraits. It was the works of American action painters such as Franz Kline, among others, that gave him access to abstract painting and intuitive painting, which he still enjoys today.
How did you get into art?
I have been interested in abstract painting since I was a child. However, I actually wanted to write poetry. After spending several months in Portugal, I was so blown away by the atmosphere and everything it triggered in me that I couldn't find the words. I had no choice but to start painting. I love the process.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
My "stylistic home" is in the abstract expressionism of the post-war years, sometimes also in European informal painting. I don’t paint objectively. I don’t paint chaos. I always paint with the claim that colour and form are allowed to manifest themselves freely into an order.
How do you go about developing your work?
I collect ideas in a sketchbook. I make sketches. But I only paint when I'm at 100%. I want every single piece to be individual and contain a touch of my soul.
Who or what influences you?
Among other things, people who pursue their dreams against the odds and works by painters that tell such great stories that I just want to paint when I think about them.
Make us curious. What are you planning to do next?
I am currently working on a large series for an exhibition. I will communicate the theme soon.
Photos: Anja Koppitsch und Chiara Ellensohn
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