BIOGRAPHY
Christoph-Mert Hagen was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1984. As the son of a Filipino mother and a German father, he lived for a long time „between worlds“ and was profoundly shaped by the challenges of cultural identity and origin. From an early age, his passion for drawing and painting was a constant companion. It gave him security and self-confidence and has remained an integral part of his life ever since. At some point, it seemed natural to pursue this passion professionally. This led to his graphic design training and subsequent two years working as a freelance graphic designer. Inspired by the „Storyteller“ exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle in 2005 and his increasing contact with freelance artists, the idea of studying fine arts soon took root. After successfully applying to the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg, he initially studied painting under the supervision of Professors Achim Hoops and Hendrik Krawen, but switched to film after a few semesters. The narrative, the art of storytelling through moving images, had ultimately captivated him. After receiving his diploma in Visual Communication under the supervision of Professors Wim Wenders and Pepe Danquart, he then began working freelance in the fields of film, music videos and advertising. Over the course of more than ten years in this demanding industry, however, the desire to return to art and pursue his passion for drawing and painting gradually grew. Following a burnout in early 2022, he refocused on what truly mattered and his own art. Since then, Christoph-Mert Hagen has been working as a part-time postman and full-time artist. And he's more balanced.
ABOUT MY ART
Characters, narrative fragments, the absurd – all of this keeps recurring and seems important to me. The comical scenes of everyday life are often a source of inspiration. So are films. And dreams. I work both analog and digitally. My art is created on paper and canvas, sometimes scanned and continued on the computer, or it is created digitally from the beginning and printed to a high standard. I often use my own (old) photos and snapshots from everyday life as references. Sometimes I even invent characters or entire scenes in 3D programs on the computer and then translate them into my art. My tools and methods are therefore diverse and varied. I work with whatever comes naturally and feels right. And no – I don't use AI. It's all self-taught craftsmanship. And a lot of passion.
VISIBILITY & CONTACT
As an artist, I naturally love seeing my work in „real life“. Whether in galleries, cafés, bars, waiting rooms, people's living rooms – and everywhere in between. Because I believe that art belongs in everyday life, should always be accessible and tangible, and ideally is something that is lived with. So please feel free to contact me if you're interested in my art, would like to purchase it (either as an original or a high-quality print), or if you have ideas for exhibitions and projects. I look forward to hearing from you.
Inquiries:
info@cmh-art.de