Anja Höppner

The Inner Center

Jackson's Art Prize 2025
Aquatint, Etching
Paper
43.5 x 34 cm

£400

“I repeatedly struggle—like many others—with sleep problems. One seeks a comfortable position, shifts, stretches out, and curls up. Particularly, the so-called embryo position gives me a feeling of safety and protection by shielding the center of my body—the vital inner organs. In my print, I overlay these different sleeping postures, resulting in a multi-layered, vibrant image. Depending on the viewing distance, the merged forms are perceived differently, revealing finer distinctions upon closer examination. The viewer can study the work in depth and immerse themselves in the depicted figure. The transparency of the overlays shows that sleep reflects not only a physical but also an emotional state. While the figures in the outer area appear to move gently in a crescent-shaped motion, the forms in “The Inner Center” spiral inward as if they never want to let go. In this way, I explore the complex dynamics of restless sleep and invite the viewer to discover the subtle nuances between security and unease.”