The "96 Steps" Series - A Journey Beyond Reality

The "96 Steps" series by German fine artist Andrea E. Sroka presents a captivating fusion of architecture, portraiture, and surreal aesthetics. Each of the 12 images in this series tells a story that transcends visible reality, inviting the viewer to delve deeper into the symbolic and emotional world of the compositions.
The presented works are distinguished by their impressive blend of historical architecture - particularly spaces defined by staircases and balustrades—with fragmented portrait representations. This surrealistic approach, where faces and architectural elements merge, creates a dreamlike and mystical effect. This technique gives the impression that the depicted spaces are not just physical locations but also mental or emotional landscapes.
Sroka's use of color varies between warm, sepia-like tones that evoke a nostalgic mood and more vibrant, contrasting colors that convey dynamism and modernity. This contrast underscores the tension between past and present, as well as between reality and imagination. The interplay of these elements creates a timeless quality in the artwork, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationship with space and identity.

Symbolism and Emotional Impact
The fusion of human and architectural forms symbolizes the interconnectedness of individuals with their surroundings and the influence of these environments on personal memories and dreams. Each piece in the "96 Steps" series serves as a portal to a world where the boundaries between the physical and the emotional are blurred, inviting viewers to explore the depths of their own subconscious.
Andrea E. Sroka's "96 Steps" series is a testament to the power of art to transcend the ordinary and touch the profound. Through her masterful combination of historical architecture, portraiture, and surrealism, Sroka creates a visual narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Her work challenges viewers to see beyond the surface and to engage with the deeper symbolic and emotional layers of her compositions.
 

Boundless Creativity and Artistic Evolution
In the realm of art, Andrea E. Sroka knows no boundaries. Her vibrant approach to creating art conveys that it can also be a form of luxury. Born in 1954 and raised in Leipzig, Sroka discovered her love for music early on. She trained as a music engraver and graduated in print and media design. In 1985, she emigrated from East Germany to Ulm with her family. Her career includes roles as a rhythmic gymnastics coach and an administrator at the Ulm Clinic. During this time, she managed to work as a freelance artist, creating visually appealing art series on various themes. Projects such as Luther, Eiffel Tower, Metropolis, and Beethoven, each comprising over 40 compositions, are notable examples of her work. Her oil paintings, ranging from canvas to metal plates, as well as digital works, have garnered international attention in exhibitions. As an author, she collaborates with Calvendo and BoD. In the spring of 2019, Inter Ad Agency/USA invited her for a study stay in Florida for several weeks.
For several years, Sroka has been engaged in digital illustration, which she sees as a blend of painting, drawing, and photography. It is also a form of classical painting expressed through contemporary techniques. Her work spans portraits, architecture, landscapes, and special collages. These compositions, created with mixed media, consist of hundreds of individual layers.
 

Artistic Technique and Style
The creation and completion of digital illustrations are not left to chance; they highlight her personal artistic diversity. Digital illustration allows her to incorporate a variety of her works, from canvas to metal and cardboard images, into new projects. By combining painting, drawing, and photography, Sroka adapts portraits, figures, and landscapes to a contemporary style. In a new structure, using various techniques, her original images continue to live on in new artworks. These works are always related to her own themes, but also encompass historical or architectural areas. Digital illustration can capture far more information in a single image than traditional photography or classical painting.
 

Challenges and Innovations
The optimization of collage techniques is the greatest challenge, requiring a high level of artistic diversity to represent or make visible hundreds of realities. The focus of the current series is "interactive action." To illustrate this, consider the following examples: Since the magnetic images are variable, they can be attached anywhere, creating a new image each time. All works are originals, as they are enhanced with engravings and painting after printing. Following the themes of Luther, Eiffel Tower, and Beethoven, "Metropolis" is already the fourth series, each with approximately 40 images. Some of these works were exhibited in the USA in 2019/2020.
 

Biografy
1968-1971 Kunstzirkel Leipzig
1971-1974 3- jährige graphische Ausbildung/ Interdruck Leipzig
1974 Abschluss für Druck-und Mediengestaltung
1978-1983 Seminare in der „Freien Kunstakademie Leipzig“
1986-2000 Künstlerische Arbeiten in verschiedenen malerischen Verfahrensweisen
2010-2013 Seminare Ulmer Volkshochschule und Künstlergilde Ulm
2012-2015 Einzelausstellungen, Auftragsarbeiten
2013 Mitglied der Künstlergilde Ulm
2014 Grimma/ Leipzig erteilt Auftrag für Lutherdekade
2015 Erste Ausstellung des Lutherprojektes „Luther im Netz“ Klosterkirche Grimma
2015 Freischaffende Künstlerin
2016 Veröffentlichung Kunst- Katalog zum Lutherjubiläum „Luther im Netz“
2017 Luther- Ausstellung mit 43 Werken in der Emmauskirche Berlin
2018 Werke der „Digitalen Illustration“ wird von Inter Ad Agency und Peter Paul Galerie in Sarasota/Florida gefördert und ausgestellt
2018 Mitglied der Art in Business org. Sarasota
2018 Mitglied ARTMO
2019 Autor Calvendo Verlag und BoD
2019 Mitglied BTHVN-Project „Pastorale gegen den Klimawandel“
2019 Artist bei Artistwindow
2019 Studienaufenthalt Florida
2020 Beethoven „Pastorale im Klimawandel“ Sonderausgabe durch Verlag
2020 Deutsche Welle veröffentlicht Video zum Thema Pastorale mit digitalen Arbeiten der Beethoven Serie
2020 Artist bei Ars Artis Kunstversandhaus Austria
Stationen einzelner Ausstellungen 2017-2020 Leipzig/ Berlin/ München/ Herzberg/ New York/ Soest/ Sarasota Florida/ Zürich/ Rom/ Manatee Florida/ Ulm/ Miami/ Barcelona/ Mannheim