The Master of Illusion - Johannes Stötter by Sarah Troi

JOHANNES STÖTTER.

the master of illusion

index.

Johannes Life animals owl frog chameleon world bodypainting festival landscapes mountains waterfalls human environment sao paulo swedish house credits

Professional artist Johannes Stötter is known for his

groundbreaking work in the realm of body painting

and body art. His 2013 creation of a tropical frog using

5 models went viral, propelling his career into anoth-

er stratosphere. As a world renowned phenomenon,

Johannes has won numerous awards, reached various milestones and received several accolades from

around intertwining elements of creativity, spirituality and alternative living, music is also an integral part of

his artistic expression. With a high spirit and powerful

creative sense, he teaches at bodypainting workshops, and exhibits his work all around the globe. His ability to touch the hearts of others and spark positivity through

his art is by far one of Johannes’s utmost successes. “It

notable press. Based in northern Italy, he resides in a

always seemed to me that animals and people were

nature, he gains much of his inspiration. Guided by his

Johannes in describing his need to try out camouflage

fascination with people of various cultures allows his

of the grass on a mountain lake, just a few metres from

small town in the Alps; holding a deep connection with life’s philosophy, and motivated by everyday life his

ingenuity to be flourish. Rather than a static canvas, Johannes

transfers art onto live models,

which enhances the connectiv-

ity between the artist, person

and art-form. Bringing his art-

able to disappear within their environment,” explained body painting for himself. Now, I’m sitting in the middle

“I don’t want people to look at my artwork and nod, and never think about it again.”

work to life, with each brush

stroke, and creating detailed effects with his hands,

he fuses the seen and unseen into one. Often blending his art into the backdrop of natural landscapes or

Johannes as I watch him and

the naked model before us,

who has begun to shiver in the

cold. The conditions are so terrible and on the other side of

the lake there is snow. The wind

blows through my jumper and

casts Johannes’ hair about in spite of his hairband.

His paint and brushes are at his side. The painting will

have to go quickly. He looks almost like a wild ani-

indoor décor, he creates illusionary masterpieces, por-

mal himself as he moves about the model, a brush

and vulnerability. Mind-blowing, astounding, and in-

for stroke the model seems to disappear into the

traying the beauty of life forms within its very existence

spirational, his ability to select the perfect shades of

colour is as accurate as an “eyedropper tool”. Making it

seem effortless, his distinctive technique compliments

stroke over her breast, stepping back, then stroke

environment. As he told me, nature is his passion.

Perhaps, like Johannes, we should all listen to the

feeling in our gut and be open to new experi-

his peculiar, yet driven and passionate persona; as he

ences. The World Body Art Champion is crowned

piece by piece. He was born into a lifestyle that revolves

Austria. Johannes took part for the first time in 2009.

brilliantly paints his vision, transforming each model

every year in Klagenfurt on Wörthersee lake in

Johannes Life.

She has become one with the breathtaking panorama.

Johannes is right: In order to see something special, you

only have to look closely. With an expression of satisfaction,

Johannes said: “My current profession unites everything that I ever wanted from life.” Once, he was unsure how to

unite his many talents and now he notices, piece by piece, that his life has become a complete work of art. It’s like

a colourful puzzle and one day it all fit together, like his works of art in which it’s hard to tell where the person ends

and nature begins. After his first experience body painting,

Johannes was inspired to do a series of body paintings

and to exhibit his work in order to become better known

“My current profession unites everything that I ever wanted from life and more.”

as an artist. To this day, he is still surprised that his art really

struck a nerve and this gave him the confidence to stick with body painting. External conditions play a decisive

role when it comes to landscape camouflage: How does

the water reflect? What about the movement of the sun

and the clouds? A model standing naked in the snow or heat for several hours is actually quite common. While he

paints, Johannes photographs the models step by step,

checking the colours in his camera display. discoverAfter

Johannes has sketched a draft with his pencil, as he has

done here with his famous frog motif, he tries to calculate

how many models he will need and how best to use their body parts to create the desired effect. discover. During

rehearsal, Johannes moves the models around until he

achieves the right constellation; then he creates a large

colourful draft before envisioning the right backdrop. With

a look of complete surprise I stand behind Johannes. It’s

only from this angle that I notice that the model seems to have disappeared entirely. Johannes grew up in Pfitsch.

owl

animals.

He manages to mirror animals, fruits, cities and landscapes with his painted models.

Professional artist Johannes Stรถtter is known for his groundbreaking artwork in the realm of body painting and body art. As a world renowned phenomenon, Johannes has won numerous awards.

frog.

Johannes Stoetter had no problem in kissing a frog and, ultimately made him a famous prince.

In 2013, his creativity, dedication and his affinity with nature’s geometry, colours and forms

paid off big time. He achieved notoriety with

his legendary creation of a tropical frog con-

sisting of 5 bodypainted models becoming

one with nature. He made headlines in the

world press and was featured in newspapers,

magazines and online magazines. Equally, his

art work featured on TV channels across Europe, USA and crossing to Asia.

chame leon.

Chameleons are a distinctive specialized decedents of Old World lizards.

world bodypainting festival.

The World Bodypainting Festival (WBF) is a bodypainting festival and competition which is held annually in Austria.

The festival used to be held in Pörtschach on lake Wörthersee, but since 2017 it has taken place in Klagenfurt.

The World Bodypainting Festival has been taking place

general public in a park also known as “Bodypaint City”

the festival season of the southern region of Austria. The

The festival is open to both adults and children and is

ing art movement, which has become worldwide, and

visitors alike are able to step “into the surreal” filled with a

since 1998, forming a part of the art and cultural scene and

WBF has been involved in creating the modern bodypaintthe event’s media coverage has continually increased.

Over the years the festival has been hosted in different

towns around the state of Carinthia, and in its 20th year

it acquired a new home in the capital city, Klagenfurt am

Wörthersee. Interaction with local art initiatives and the

cultural institutions of the region has provided the art of

bodypainting with opportunities for growth and network-

where the World, Special and Amateur Awards are held.

considered a family-friendly environment. Spectators and unique world of art that excites the senses and the imagination. Visitors can also take part and express themselves in various activities throughout Bodypaint City. Artists

compete on all three days with a given theme in the categories of brush & sponge, airbrush and special effects for the World Champion Award & title announced on

Sunday. Also included is the World Facepainting Award,

ing. The WBF is held during the summer months in July. It

Armateur Award, Installation Award, Special Effects Face

tators.[2] It consists of a preparatory week followed by 3

categories have separate prizes and trophies. Artists can

week consists of workshops and side events. The work-

both adults and children, and many families come there

attracts artists from 50+ nations and attracts 30,000+ specmain days of the festival/competition. The preparatory

shops offer many educational programs and lessons by

leading artists in brush & sponge, airbrush, special effects,

Make-up, Make-up Battle Award and the Photo Award. All

use either male or female models. The festival is open for together. The three main days of the festival also plays

host to a VIP area, a bodypainting manufacture & sup-

beauty make-up, head dressing including colour theo-

pliers’ market, fashion & crafts market, food & beverage

the WB Academy and are also scheduled throughout the

enous peoples of Central and South America paint jagua

ties such as the Surreal Costume Ball (Body Circus) with

bodies. Indigenous peoples of South America tradition-

ry and history. All workshops are run and handled under

year in various cities worldwide. Side events include par-

vendors, headline stage bands & performers. Many indigtattoos, or designs with Genipa americana juice on their

international DJs and musical stage performances. Also

ally use annatto, huito, or wet charcoal to decorate their

industry dcussions. The three main days are open to the

venue moved a bit further down the lake to Klagenfurt.

included are exhibitions, gatherings, meeting points and

faces and bodies like Stoetter does. In 2017 the festival

The festival was first created and launched in 1998 in

body painters and keen amateurs. In 2017 the festival

Seeboden, Austria as the European Bodypainting Festival

venue moved a bit further down the lake to Klagenfurt,

tourism manager Alex Barendregt. It was a small gathering

the Goethepark, a public park surrounded by the cultural

in order to promote summer tourism to the region by then

of artists and the first “boutique event” of its kind in the

world. Also launched in conjunction was the WB Academy,

the capital city of the state of Carinthia. The new venue is

treasures such as theatre, the art house and many galleries.

Body painting is a form of body art where artwork is paint-

which in 2008 was offered worldwide. As the Bodypainting

ed directly onto the human skin. Unlike tattoos and other

the World Body Painting Associationof WB Production in

eral hours or sometimes up to a few weeks (in the case of

Movement was growing, in 2001 Mr. Barendregt launched tion followed by the launch of

WB Production in 2010. Due to

the increasing attendance of international artists and supporters

to the festival, in 2004 the festi-

val was renamed to the “World

Bodypainting Festival”, while in

forms of body art, body painting is temporary, lasting sev-

“Bodypainting is special art because the artwork is alive, can move and more...”

2011 Mr. Barendregt left his position at the tourist office

and moved the festival to its new home in Pörtschach,

Austria on lake Wörthersee. Today it is the biggest annual

to a few weeks (in the case of

mehndi or “henna tattoos” about

two weeks). Body painting that

is limited to the face is known

as “face painting”. Body painting is also referred to as (a form of)

“temporary tattoo”. Large scale

or full-body painting is more commonly referred to as body painting, while smaller or more detailed work can

sometimes be referred to as temporary tattoos. Body

event in the bodypainting culture, community and indus-

painting with clay and other natural pigments existed in

and “Home” to many. Combined with Mr. Barendregt’s

emonies, it still survives in this ancient form among the

Academy are considered and responsible for providing

islands and Africa. Body painting can also be seen at some

Bodypainting. Body painting festivals happen annually

Body painting festivals that take place in North America

try at large. It has become the “Center of Bodypainting”

efforts, the WB Association, WB Production and the WB a worldwide platform and introduction into the Art of across the world, they`re bringing together professional

most, if not all, tribalist cultures. Often worn during cerindigenous people of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific football matches, at rave parties, and at certain festivals.

include the North American Body Painting Championship.

landscapes.

So realistic are the artworks for most people, it`s difficult to see his models making up his representations.

autumn forrest

alpin feeling

home (left top) trollland (bottom) reflection (right top)

human environment.

External conditions play a decisive role when it comes to landscape camouflage.

Guided by his philosophy, and motivated by everyday life, his fascination wit h people of various cultures allows his ingenuity flourish.Based in northern Italy, he resides in a

town in the Alps; holding a deep connection with nature,

he gains much of his inspiration.

Sao Paolo

Our environment means our physical surroundings and the characteristics of the place in

which we live. It also refers to

the wider natural world of land, sea and atmosphere.

Swedish house

credits.

Free University of Bolzano - Bozen Faculty of Design and Art Bachelor in Design and Art - Major in Design WUP 18/19 | 1st semester foundation course Project Modul: Editorial Design Design by: Sarah Troi Magazine | Johannes Stรถtter Supervision: Project leader Prof. Antonino Benincasa Project assistants Maximilian Boiger, Gian Marco Favretto Photography: Johannes Stรถtter Texts: suedtirol.info/storiesfromsouthtyrol/johannes-stoetter johannesstoetterart.com Paper: color copy uncoated 300g color copy uncoated 200g Fonts: Baskerville Avenir Next Printed: Bozen-Bolzano, January 2019

“he fuses the seen and unseen into one.”

Johannes Stötter