Original Artwork: Salome & Punk – Anni Heuchel

40 x 50 cm with frame
Watercolor on Paper

In the painting “Salome and Punk”, I process my frustration during the corona period, when strict lockdown measures prevailed. At first, the depiction of Salome seems classical, but instead of John's head, she sacrifices the head of a punk, symbolizing the death of the subculture. At the bottom of the picture is Berghain, a symbol of Berlin's “high-end” club culture, where the money was flowing at the time. This interpretation places contemporary themes in a historical context and can - hopefully - encourage reflection on the question of what sacrifices should be made in times of crisis. The picture addresses how authority and power can be redefined in such moments.

About the artist:

Anni Heuchel, born in 1990 in East Germany, is a self-taught artist who believes that the essence of a great body of work lies more in its content than in its technique.

She observes that modern art often prioritizes vanity and superficial elements, such as neon tubes, to craft pieces that are deemed spirited and valuable—an approach she actively avoids.

Anni pursued studies in philosophy, sociology, art history, and cultural anthropology in Potsdam and Berlin. Currently, her artistic exploration centers on questions of human identity, often expressed through portraits. She also finds inspiration in surrealistic, densely layered, and vibrant settings. Her interests include punk rock as a mindset, sexual identity, feminism, and morality, which frequently inform her work.