Julius Hofmann, born in 1983, underwent his artistic education under the guidance of notable figures such as Neo Rauch and Heribert C. Ottersbach at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig. Following his graduation in 2011, he delved deeply into exploring themes related to picture composition and the depiction of space and surfaces, particularly in the context of the digital era. Initially rooted in traditional painting, Hofmann’s artistic journey has expanded to encompass computer graphics and 3D animation over the past few years.
For Hofmann, these two artistic mediums are intertwined, with each influencing the other. He seamlessly incorporates elements of animation into his paintings while infusing his digital creations with the style and characteristics of traditional painting. This fusion results in a unique visual language where the boundaries between the two mediums blur, allowing for a dynamic exploration of form, space, and narrative.
The scenarios depicted in Hofmann’s works possess a sense of liminality—they exist on the threshold between reality and imagination. While they may evoke distant and otherworldly landscapes, they also bear distinct traces of European culture, hinting at a broader, universal significance embedded within the visual language he employs.
Hofmann’s artistic vocabulary is strongly informed by the aesthetics of computer graphics from the latter part of the previous century. Drawing inspiration from the metaphysical realms of digital worlds, his compositions often feature elemental forms that evoke a sense of familiarity with the aesthetics of post-internet and gaming art. Through his work, Hofmann invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of the virtual and the real, exploring the transformative power of technology on our perception of the visual world.