My Biography

Gunther Jancke was born in 1971 in East-Berlin, Germany. In 1988, he was accepted as a fine-art-student at Dresden University of Visual Arts (HfBK), however, due to the political situation he decided to train as a carpenter, and later became a Community Organiser in Berlin, Cologne and London. He moved to London in 2010 to explore and develop his creative practice and potential. His experience from the ‘Divided City’ developed his interest in capturing the emotions of city life and the emotional effects on people. Gunther joined Stour Space, based at the heart of the latest transformation processes and his work captures how he feels about gentrification, loss, sadness, but also excitement, dreams, hopes and new ventures. Gunthers latest body of work is inspired and influenced by the Abstract Expressionists of the 20th century.

I paint how I feel. Not what I think, not what I see, but what I naturally feel. I discovered abstract expressionism as an intuitive and honest way to dig deeper into my emotions. I try to capture those emotions and through that tell my personal story in aesthetic, colourful ways. Those are stories of my feelings, sometimes my inner voices, my worries and wonders. When I go into my studio here at Stour Space, I take time to listen to myself. I lean in, not against. I spend time to embrace my emotions and imagine colours, shapes and structures.