Biography | Artwork

 

Sonja was born in Iserlohn, Germany and is currently working and living as an artist and illustrator in Berlin.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT     I am Sonja Danowski and an illustrator and analogy archivist. The human memory works in chronological order. Not surprising that much gets lost as elements are continuously overlapped by later impressions and therefore loose presence and importance. Drawings are of analogue structure which makes them available to any combination and opens access to any element. Drawn image-worlds are timeless and available at any time.

 

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2008 Diploma with Honours in Communication Design from University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg  

 

 

2011 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, Bologna Bookfair, Traveling Shows Japan

2010 Cheltenham Illustration Exhibition

2010 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, Bologna Bookfair, Traveling Shows Japan

2010 Ilustrarte IV Biennial International Exhibition of Illustration, Lisbon Portugal
2010 Cheltenham Illustration Prize Exhibition
2010 Blue Book Group Exhibition Iran, Japan, Spain, Argentina

2009 Illustrative Berlin 
2008 Illustrative Zürich Section Bookart

2008 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, Bologna Bookfair, Traveling Shows Japan and South Korea
2007 Ilustrarte  III Biennial International Exhibition of Illustration, Barreiro Portugal 
2007 Illustrative Berlin Section New Talents
2007 Best of Unpublished German Book Design Beijing and Frankfurt Bookfair, Guangdong Museum of Art China
2006 International Self Portrait Exhibition Museum Stalowa Wola Poland 
 

 

2007 Best of Unpublished German Book Design
2007 Among the winners of Young Illustrators Award Illustrative Berlin
2007 Selected for Ilustrarte Portugal
2008 Merit Award Student Show, 3x3 Magazine of Contemporary Illustration New York
2008 Award of Excellence Bologna Illustrators Exhibition
2008 ADC Junior Award Art Directors Club Germany
2009 Gold Medal Student Show, 3x3 Magazine of Contemporary Illustration New York
2009 Selected for Ilustrarte  Portugal
2010 Award of Excellence Bologna Illustrators Exhibition
2010 Special Mention Fundación SM International Award of Illustration
2010 Merit Award Section Fine Art + Illustration Creative Quarterly No. 19
2010 Merit Award Section Fine Art Creative Quarterly No. 20
2010 Shortlist London International Creative Competition Category Illustration
2010 Commended in the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition
2011 Award of Excellence Bologna Illustrators Exhibition

2011 Silver Medal . 3x3 Magazine of Contemporary Illustration . Children´s Book Show

 

 

Autoportret 2006
Ilustrarte Catalogue 2008 + 2010
3 x 3 Annual No. 5 + 6
Objects No. 2 Craftpunk
ADC Sushi No. 11
Bologna Illustration Annual 2008 + 2010
Creative Quarterly No. 19 + 20
Cheltenham Illustration Annual
dpi Magazine Taiwan Design Stars Boulevard vol.09
LICC Annual No. 3
Revista Göoo No. 10
3x3 Illustration Directory 2011

 

Q&A INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST
 
Q. At what age did you begin creating art?
A. I cannot remember a tangible outset, it´s more a development including a very extensive phase of collecting and sorting the essential impressions.

 

 

Q. Why do you make art?
A. Maybe because there is no rational reason.

 

 

Q. Who do you make it for?
A. It´s noncommittal. If someone lights on my art and feels emotionally addressed it makes me very happy.

 

 

Q. Do you plan out a piece or do you wing it?
A. I'm following a winged plan. Each stage during the creation is the plan for the next.

 

 

Q. Do you have heroes? If so, who, if not why not?
A. No - no heroes. Looking up might distort the perspective. But wonderful people and their wonderful thoughts and creations can deeply impress and calm me.

Q. How do you decide when a piece of work is finished?
A. It´s that moment when all objects in the picture seem to feel well in their setting.

 

 

Q. Do you have your own cure for artists block?
A. Leave thinking and feel instead. It really rids the thoughts.

 

 

Q. Do you think having an art education is important in order to be successful?
A. No, I don´t think so. Even if you are being educated you must teach yourself by doing and trying. But maybe it can give impulse and help to concentrate and take it serious.