Anne’s work is based on observations made whilst she travelled in North African countries, Andalucía and South East Turkey. Anne was taken by the abstract and meditative qualities of Islamic art architecture. And how they confronted Western cultural influences. Anne also noticed that many symbols and architectural styles used in ancient cultures were used too in Christian and Muslim designs. These designs are elemental and forceful. The designs have migrated through the cultures and were influenced by peoples relationship with nature.
“In my paintings I use elements and symbols as shown in prehistoric art produced by people in the Middle East and Western Europe. Thus I see the overlap in similarities shown between some Celtic, Christian and Islamic motifs. This suggests to me that the roots are in a common ancient origin.
I hope to encourage the viewer to embrace cultural diversity. I would like to open a dialogue that might help build bridges between the Christian and Islamic worlds.
This, I feel, is a timely subject to bring to the public.”
Anne Korff was born in Germany and studied Fine Art in Berlin. She came to Ireland in 1977 and from 1987 worked in her own publishing company, Tír Eolas, to follow her interest in history and archaeology. In order to make a living Anne used her artistic skills to design and illustrate her publications and run the publishing house. She has been a full time painter for the past ten years.
The content of her paintings is based on her journeys from West to East. She is also a keen gardener and sailor. She is living on the Doorus peninsula close to Kinvara village on the West coast of Ireland.
