Desirée Hilmer -
Realfictionart 

Artist Statement

What is the reality of a society or an individual?
What is fiction if there is no universal reality?
My work focuses on the search of reality and fiction combining different media to stimulate multiple senses and to offer a holistic view of reality.
Abstract paper sculptures installed in the room, combined with videos and other media question the perception of the individual and expose ones’ filter.
In general, my attempt is to use the medium of paper to its full potential and to redefine it in a world in which art moves more into the digital space.
A key element of my artistic approach is to move art into the public space and redefine the concept of art.
Therefore, I exhibited from a young age in community centers, grocery stores, and high schools to bring art to the daily life of people and to break with the stereotype of the unapproachable art world.
My goal is to connect local artists with exhibition spaces. 
I had the opportunity to be a speaker and to exhibit one of my pieces for the Innovation Festival in Philadelphia in 2019 to talk about the future of art to redefine how we consume art in our modern society.
My background in cognitive Neuroscience influences my artwork and inspires the question of perception and how we process information.
Self-reflection is often wrongly defined as a solely cognitive process. This is the
reason why I wanted to provide the viewer with a more holistic emotional and
cognitive experience by making the unconscious interplay between emotions and thoughts visible.
Overall, my work is inspired by society, human relationships, and cognitive neuroscience.
Questioning the individual, society, and creating awareness for the diversity of reality and perception, constantly searching for the reality in our divided world, drives me to create my art.
Because art opens the eyes to reality.