Sleepless (2008)

😵‍💫 The light is central and intense, almost like a spotlight that mercilessly focuses on the state of insomnia. It allows no escape into the darkness that one seeks when sleeping. The words "sleepless" repeated several times seem like a constant echo coming from the darkness. They represent the inner voices or the spiral of thoughts that are typical of people with insomnia: "Will I ever fall asleep? What if I'm tired tomorrow?"

🛌 If falling asleep is challenging, various mindfulness practices can help calm the mind and relax the body. Here are some effective techniques:

😌 Body-Scan Meditation

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Gradually focus your attention on different parts of your body, starting from your toes up to your head. Notice any tension and consciously let it go.

👄 4-7-8 Breathing Technique

a) Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
b) Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
c) Exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds.

🔁 Repeat this 4–6 times.

💭 Thought Awareness

When thoughts arise, notice them without judgment. Imagine your thoughts as clouds drifting across the sky. Return your focus to your breath whenever you get distracted.

👂 Mindful Listening

Play a guided meditation, soft music, or nature sounds (e.g., rain or waves). Focus solely on the sounds and let other thoughts fade into the background.

💝 Gratitude Ritual

Think of three things you’re grateful for, no matter how small. Spend a few moments reflecting on each one and feel the gratitude deeply.

🏝 Visualization Exercise

Imagine a safe, peaceful place, like a beach or forest. Focus on the details: What does it smell like? What sounds do you hear? Stay in this imagery until you feel relaxed.

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A Cry for Survival (2007)

I often used photographs of myself in my early works. This meant I could freely choose the perspective and pose without having to worry about usage rights. At the time I was doing my technical vocational training and from afternoon to evening I created digital collages. Every two weeks I had a session with my therapist because of ADHD and at the time I was a student at Dieter Schiele's painting school, also about every two weeks. But he was never able to do anything with my collages and we mainly concentrated on realistic nature drawings on paper. However, I always liked to experiment and in the quick engagement with snippets of images, internal processes could be projected unhindered.

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I quickly put a smile in the snow! ❄️☃️

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🌹 Black Mirror: Talisman

The word talisman was borrowed in the 17th century from the Italian “talismano”, which comes from the Arabic طلسم / ṭillasm and means “magic image”. The Arabic word in turn can be traced back to the Middle Greek “τέλεσμα (télesma)”, which means “offering, consecrated object” or in Byzantine “magic object”.

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Unusual sight: Self-empowerment in men is often met with resistance. This resistance stems from the perception that men are already dominant and favored, and there’s a prevailing expectation for them to always appear strong. I find that such views have some weaknesses, especially in terms of compassion, communication and, above all, health. My open approach to discussing emotions and vulnerabilities is a testament to strength and compassion.

Approximately 7 to 10 percent of people have ADHD, with men being disproportionately affected. I see no danger in expressing my authenticity and openness. You cannot accuse me of anything I don’t already acknowledge about myself. In fact, those who cling to outdated gender roles are often breeding their own tormentors. In a society where individuals are afraid to be themselves, manipulation and deception become the only means of survival.

Having experienced the consequences of such behavior in my own life, I have developed a strong aversion to it. By being open about my emotions and struggles, I create an environment where others can feel comfortable doing the same. This openness helps to create healthier relationships, greater self-awareness, and genuine connections.

It’s time to reject these outdated norms and create an inclusive society where all people can live authentically without fear of judgment or rejection. My journey represents a step toward this change and serves as a call to others to embrace their true selves.

Showing myself as I do in the picture is symbolic of my courage, because everyone in my neighborhood and the whole world can see me like this. Do I care if I fulfill your expectations or if I am criticized? Not really. I follow the community guidelines and do what I want.

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Intuition, Mindfulness, and Reflection:

The diagonal forms when the number of posts is divisible by three and represents a moment of balance and alignment in my system. This line signifies the ideal time to realign, as the system is in perfect balance. The diagonal, as a symbol of balance, points to a state of clarity, and that is the moment for change. Each of the three eyes – Intuition, Mindfulness, and Reflection – appears at regular intervals along the line, emphasizing that optimal alignment can only be achieved through a combination of these three qualities.

Intuition: One eye stands for the ability to recognize inner insights, even when external cues are absent.

Mindfulness: Another eye symbolizes the need to be present in the moment and attentive to changes or details.

Reflection: The third eye represents the ability to think about experiences and learn from them.

When the number of posts is not divisible by three, an imbalance occurs, and instead, the eyes form triangles. These triangles symbolize a stable self that reorients itself in different directions during times of imbalance:

A downward-pointing triangle represents inner stability and reflection during a phase of imbalance.

An upward-pointing triangle stands for outward-directed mindfulness and the willingness to adapt and respond to changes in order to restore balance.

Intuition remains a leading quality, even in moments of imbalance, helping to find the right path back to balance.

Once a number divisible by three is reached, the diagonal reappears. This diagonal signals the return to balance and marks the optimal moment for change and alignment.

In summary, the cycle symbolizes the interplay between stability and change, with the three eyes – Intuition, Mindfulness, and Reflection – serving as constant companions:

The diagonal represents balance and transformation through the alignment of these three qualities.

The triangles show that stability can also be achieved in times of imbalance by reorienting the self in different directions through Intuition, Mindfulness, and Reflection.

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🌌 Organic Fragments

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🌊 Haven of Serenity

🏝 The sloths were generated with FLUX AI. The environment and some sloth details were created with Adobe Firefly. I spent quite a long time on it. I wanted it to be completely AI generated and that doesn't always do what it's supposed to.

🏗 Originally, when I generated it with FLUX, the sloths were in a kind of metal container in a mechanical setting. I gave the image some longing, warmth and fantasy, but also subtle contrasts.

Initial prompts: FLUX AI
Enhancement: Adobe Firefly AI

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🕳 The Lone Shoveler 🕳

I generated the character with FLUX AI and then created a landscape using Adobe Firefly in Photoshop.

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Mutagenic Sloth Clockwork 🕰🦥

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🐌 Lazily ceated with
🤖 AI image generator:

Initial prompts: FLUX AI

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With FLUX you can create very realistic images. Like many AI image generators, it still has a few small problems with the number of body parts. This has to do with the way it works, but progress is being made. Modern AI models are based on complex neural networks. These networks work on different levels of abstraction to recognize and combine patterns. The program does not count, but recognizes a probable pattern in the context of the specification and environment.

A few years ago I introduced you to Google's Deepdream. A neural network that hallucinated objects into images based on training data in several runs. The basic principle has remained essentially the same since then, although the underlying technology and the ability to generate more realistic images has developed considerably.

Modern AI models work iteratively to create increasingly realistic images by building on and refining previous results. In several runs - now with huge training data and a targeted context - more and more is 'hallucinated'. The limbs are partially shaped like a back, which is why it sometimes recognizes a sloth where there is actually a sloth arm.

Bioculture: While inspiration from biological systems played a role, technology has developed in a direction that goes far beyond what could be considered a direct replica of the nervous system. It is an exciting world full of unimagined possibilities.

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