LARS CONTZEN: “I AM AN ARTIST FIRST AND FOREMOST. STRICTLY SPEAKING, I STUDIED FINE ARTS, SPECIALIZING IN PAINTING. MY SECOND PASSION FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS HAS BEEN SURFING.

I WAS BORN IN FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY. I HAVE WORKED AS A FREELANCE ARTIST AND DESIGNER SINCE 1995. DURING THIS TIME, I HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ART AND DESIGN AWARDS.”

“WITH SEA & SURF ART, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR SURFING AND THE ASSOCIATED CULTURE. I SPEND SIX WEEKS A YEAR ON AVERAGE IN DIFFERENT SURFING SPOTS, MAINLY IN EUROPE. FRANCE, ENGLAND, JERSEY, PORTUGAL OR DENMARK ARE MY SOME OF MY FAVOURITE PLACES.

I FIND THE INSPIRATION FOR MY DRAWINGS BY THE SEA, WHILE SURFING AND WHILE TRAVELLING. I SUBSEQUENTLY PRODUCE THEM IN MY “BOOTSHAUS STUDIO” ATELIER DIRECTLY ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER MAIN, PASSIONATELY TURNING THEM INTO HANDMADE SMALL SERIES.”

“ART IS COMMUNICATION, AND WITHOUT IT, WE AS HUMANS CANNOT EXIST.

SURFING IS AN EXTENDED FORM OF ART-RELATED EXPRESSION FOR ME. TRAVELLING AND THE SEA INSPIRE THE SENSES. MY DRAWINGS ARE TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS SMALL, LOVING NOTES FROM THIS CONTEXT.”