Serie „Earth Top View“
I'm currently working on a series of artworks that focus on a view of the Earth from above. Among other things, I'm currently basing my work on satellite images, some of which are also generated in off-color to depict certain chemical, biological, geological, meteorological, and other phenomena.
Here's a video showing such a work of art in 3D. It was recorded using LiDAR technology on an Apple iPhone. What's interesting is that you can then create videos using an app. No camera is required, but you can create movements or "flights" over the object as desired. It's also possible to show the work of art in a real living environment, in any setting, using augmented reality.
Here is the video of the artwork “Earth Top View 013”
“Vibrant Expressions” – opening in Hamburg
My second participation in a group exhibition in Hamburg, "Vibrant Expressions," began on March 28, 2025. Together with 11 other creative artists, we enjoyed a wonderful opening. I showed four small works from my "Earth Top Views" series.
Siegmar Ahlvers: An artistic view from above
This is what Grace Denker wrote about me after an interview:
Siegmar Ahlvers, a versatile artist with a background in engineering, combines attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture in his work. He describes himself as a generalist, constantly exploring and developing new genres and territories. His artistic journey in 2025 has literally taken him to new heights by shifting his "view from above" from Earth to space. Inspired by satellite imagery, Ahlvers creates mesmerizing artworks that depict the Earth from a satellite's perspective. These works, often in true color or false color, illustrate physical, chemical, biological, and climatic phenomena and provide a rich source of inspiration for his abstract artworks.
Ahlvers' current collection, "Earth Top View," consists of artworks inspired by satellite images. Each work is unique and has a sequential number, with some depicting specific regions of the Earth. The challenge Ahlvers mastered in this series was to depict the structures of the Earth's surface using acrylic paints. He experimented with various techniques, including applying paint directly from the tube or with a palette knife, and using a silicone brush. These techniques create three-dimensional structures that make the result unpredictable and exciting.
Ahlvers plans to photograph his small "Earth Top View" works and offer them as large-format art prints to enhance their three-dimensional effect. He is also interested in the possibilities of capturing his structured works in 3D using a lidar sensor and transforming them into animated artworks or videos. These innovative approaches demonstrate Ahlvers' constant striving to explore new techniques and further develop his art.
With his works, Ahlvers aims to inspire viewers to discover Earth as a fascinating and enigmatic planet. His "Earth Top View" series is intended to arouse curiosity and highlight the beauty and mysteries of our planet. Ahlvers hopes that by quietly contemplating his artwork, viewers will be inspired to see Earth from a new perspective and enjoy its mystery.
“I want to comfort you” – art project
Zum Thema Trost lud die Ev. Freikirchliche Gemeinde am Döhrener Turm in Hannover ein. 12 Kunstschaffende beteiligten sich. Am 27. 10. 2024 war nach dem Gottesdienst gegen 12:00 die Vernissage. Von mir is das Werk Werk „Erleuchtung kommt von oben“.
Here are my thoughts on the picture:
I find myself alone with my grief, a mere shadow of myself. Shadowy silhouettes, dark thoughts, and threatening figures scurry through my confined space. The beauty of the world remains hidden from me. But I set out on my journey, hoping for the enlightenment that will come from above and break through within me.
Enlightenment comes from above
Size: 80x80x4cm
Frame: Exhibition frame shadow gap
Artist: Siegmar Ahlvers
Year: 2024
How did this work come about? In 2023, I rented a large shop for three months on the Niki de St. Phalle Promenade in Hanover, directly beneath the main train station. It's 27 meters long and has a window front of the same length. Visitors often came in, drawn to the painting "Shadows on the Wall."
Shadows on the wall
They were so impressed by the effect of this painting that they repeatedly looked at it from different perspectives. In conversations with visitors, I was told that the painting described their life situation or that they saw "light at the end of the tunnel." Based on these personal impressions, I decided to paint another painting with a similar structure, but with the light coming from above. I made the following draft in my sketchbook:
When the request came to create something on the theme of consolation, I immediately thought about implementing this design. But how do you paint a forest path? Reading a great work by TASCHEN Publishing about Vincent van Gogh. He had a knack for using complementary contrasts to create very "lively" images. Thus, his painting "Forest Path" became a model for my first attempt at painting a forest path:
Forest Path – Painting Study on Canvas 40x30cm
After this painting study, I revised initial drafts of my artwork until I was satisfied. Then I added a self-made shadow gap frame. And the result could be seen LIFE in the Church at "Döhrener Turm" in Hanover.
Art competition "The World of Tomorrow" Kunstkreis Laatzen
This artwork was shown at LEZ Leine Einkaufszentrum. An awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
My picture attempts to capture the spiritual, religious, political and ideological currents and to show their influence on world events.
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- Waves: the ocean of life – unfortunately contaminated with microplastics
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- Purple ribbon: Hinduism and Indian religions emphasize immersion in the world, rebirth, nirvana, new beginnings as new creatures.
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- Green Movement: The ecologically oriented green movement has raised awareness of environmental pollution and the climate crisis and has strongly influenced political action.
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- Brown Current: Right-wing radical ideas pollute our world and endanger the cohesion of society.
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- The "upside-down" rainbow today represents diversity. Where is the unity?
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- UFO: Some believe that aliens threaten Earth.
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- Golden silver lining: Wealth and power make small streams of money rain from the sky.
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- Hammer and sickle: Autocrats destroy the social model of communism.
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- Crescent Moon: Islam is one of the world's major and influential religions. Unfortunately, militant Islam repeatedly causes bloodshed.
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- Cross: Isn't it enough that Jesus Christ shed his blood once for all people? Who can understand this in a time when the churches are losing their credibility?
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- Question mark: ????
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- … – – – … The stars are sending out SOS Save Our Souls
Art project on the “2024 motto”
The motto for the year is considered by many Christians, especially in German, to be the guiding verse for the year. In 2024, it was “Whatever you do, do it in love”. Die Losung stammt aus dem 1. Korintherbrief im Neuen Testament (16,14). Als Mitglied einer Free Church in Hanover wurde ich gebeten hierzu ein Kunstprojekt zu entwickeln. Die Leitung meiner Gemeinde stellte dieser Losung noch die Worte voran: „In Liebe verwurzelt“. Meine erste Assoziation dazu war der Psalm 1, which describes a person who studies God's law with delight. He is like a tree planted by a stream, which bears much fruit and whose leaves never wither. So I developed the image of such a tree and freely rewrote the text from Psalm 1. You can see the result here in the resulting picture. The idea developed to paint this tree on a canvas and place the text to the left of it on a second canvas and to have the tree expand onto this canvas in the upper area to say "...it grows beyond itself".
First, I made two designs of a tree: one painted with oil pastels on a black background, the other on white paper. Instead of creating an acrylic painting using various materials, such as tree bark and real leaves, I decided to create a digital work of art. To do this, I digitized one of the painted works, used the vectorization function for this graphic, and then designed the tree's fruits on the computer. In collaboration with graphic designer Jutta Gaenshirt Graphic elements such as the 3 words in the picture and the text on the left were developed.
The painting was then "ceremoniously unveiled" at a community retreat in the summer, and in a workshop, some participants attempted to paint a similar picture. The painting is now available on 1m x 1m canvas and in many other formats, and soon also on a porcelain mug.