Born in Dresden in 1939, Ralf Winkler had many artist pseudonyms, including Mickey Spilane, Mike Hammer or simply Y, but then became internationally known as A. R. Penck. The universal language he developed is based on elemental signs, some of which can be traced back to cave painting. Animals, stick figures, sun and cross signs as well as elongated spears and arrows on arms and legs symbolize existential struggles, resistances and various territories and social or state barriers.
“Standard pictures” is what the artist himself called his style, which is characterized mainly by black characters on a colored background, mainly elemental colors such as red, green, yellow and blue.
