Artists in Hall 7

Hall 7 of boot is not only a home for artists, but also for people who previously had no interest in art. They stop fascinated and linger in this beautiful hall, where you can sit comfortably on benches covered with furs, have a coffee or just relax. For children there is a large play pool where they can play with large toy fish that even splash with water.

Frauke Klatt paints on canvas, but also on sails - and that alone is truly a work of art! The titles she gives to her paintings are impressively well chosen. Last but not least, this is thanks to her regatta sailing family. She is one of the regular exhibitors at boot and has been loyal to the fair since 2000.

The Frenchwoman Christine Barres (58 years young) exhibits at boot Düsseldorf for the first time in its anniversary year, and adds a lot of bright colours to the hall. "Colourful world" is her motto; "Colours are her thing", she says and shows this convincingly in her pictures. She does not exclusively paint boats, but also faces, landscapes and cities. But here - at the world's largest water sports fair- she mainly presents "colourful sailing boats". Since she was a child she wanted to become a painter. And later she turned her hobby into her profession without studying, because she noticed that her paintings could be sold. Meanwhile she exhibits not only in France, but also in Europe, China and the USA. She loves to talk to so many different people from whom she can learn, she says.

Just opposite this booth you will find the painted nautical charts of Heidegrit Gröning. The 74-year-old Hamburg artist has her studio in St. Peter Ording, near the sea. "Nautical charts have always fascinated me," says the sailing grandmother, and she began at some point to collect the charts, cut them up and "experiment" with them. Among other things, she paints old or new nautical charts in a very unique way. The charts have certain " constraints" through inscriptions, coastlines, depth contours, creases and folds. The artist incorporates all this into her work.

The maps have certain "constraints" caused by entries, coastlines, depth contours, bends and folds. The artist incorporates all this into her work. Each map has a story that comes with it - e.g. an old fishing map that she got and used as background. The colours are predetermined by the maps and are reinforced. However, special elements are also highlighted with strong colours or used as themes. Thus a beacon shines in red and yellow rather than blue and green. One can discover new details in the maps over and over again and it is worthwhile to have a closer look.

The artist Thomas Fröhlich is exhibiting his KontrASTwerke for the 9th time at the fair. His business idea was born 10 years ago and was then implemented sculpturally. The 53-year-old, who has learned a trade in metal but whose hobby is wood - because he comes from the Erzgebirge mountains - one day he got the idea that both materials could be combined to create contrasting works. This idea is hidden in the name of his creations (AST meaning tree branch in German), which mostly show maritime themes. "For me, every new KontrASTwerk ("work of contrast") is a discovery of the contradictions which I want to express with all my artistic power," he said. The customer's wish is his command; for example, he has designed the silhouette of a customer's ship in stainless steel on wood. Go there and be amazed - it's worth it!