Worlds of Color - Aunchun Hirling, Esther Wenger

Brief Biographies: Aunchun Hirling and Esther Wenger

Aunchun Hirling

Born in March 1959 in Chiang Mai, Thailand

After completing her studies at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in German. In 1981, she worked as an administrative assistant for a DAAD lecturer at Chiang Mai University in Thailand.

She has lived in Germany since 1984 and works as a freelance and certified interpreter and translator of legal documents for the Thai and German languages.

Aunchun Hirling’s works are known for their enchanting compositions of animals and flowers, inspired by her happy childhood in Thailand. They are colorful, lively, and playful, and radiate a special energy. The artist draws inspiration from the colors and shapes of nature, from which she creates a world full of joy and beauty.

Aunchun Hirling taught herself all her techniques. For this reason, she cannot name a single favorite technique. Her mood, whim, love of experimentation, and above all, time determine what and when she paints. When painting, she first reaches for the colors, then finds the subject. The paintings simply take on a life of their own on the paper or canvas, in both small and large formats.

Painting: since 1987

Painting techniques: watercolor, ink, oil, acrylic, pastel, chalk, and mixed media

Exhibitions: from 1994 to the present

Esther Wenger

Born and raised in April 1945 in Kreuzlingen (Switzerland) on Lake Constance.

She has lived and worked in Wahlwies-Stockach since 1979.

Esther Wenger’s artworks are characterized by both their gentleness and depth as well as their vibrant and high-contrast colors, ranging from realistic depictions to abstraction. Her passion for tango is reflected in many of the themes and motifs in her paintings. In just one year (2001), for example, she created 365 small tango-inspired works, painted each day in chronological order.

She first became interested in painting in 1983. She taught herself and took courses, focusing intensively on watercolor painting; later, she also explored acrylics, oils, collage, and mixed media, as well as monotype, experimental printmaking techniques, and linocut.

Esther Wenger usually works based on a theme, an idea, or a concept. In doing so, she avoids having a concrete vision of the finished painting. She does not envision specific objects or figurative forms as the subject, allowing something new to emerge. She arrives at her themes through conversations, books with interesting content, or poetry. She approaches the theme through color and ultimately arrives at the form.

Since 1991, the artist has participated in group and solo exhibitions both in Germany and abroad.

She is a founding member of the group “GOLDLACK,” now known as “K^4.”

Since 1995, she has organized an annual art exhibition together with ‘K^4’ in the foyer of the Rossberghalle in Stockach-Wahlwies.

She is a member and serves on the board of the Kunst- und Kulturkreis Höri e.V.

She has participated in numerous group exhibitions organized by the Kunst- und Kulturkreis Höri e.V. in Öhningen and in the partner municipality of Merinchal, France.

Note: The Kunst- und Kulturkreis Höri e.V. was dissolved on August 24, 2020.