BUT WHAT IF IT WORKS
– PETRA WÖHRMANN
We visited Petra, a calligrapher from Munich, in her studio and in her exhibition. Her story shows how a small moment, a chance encounter and a phone call can turn your life in a completely new direction.
Petra has a degree in communication design and worked as an art director for agencies for many years. Today she pursues her passion as a calligrapher - she works for luxury brands, publishers and magazines, teaches courses at universities and has her own art projects and exhibitions. Her studio in her bright old flat in the centre of Munich offers plenty of space for creativity, dance and expression - or everything in combination.
Hello Petra, you say you never came to calligraphy on your own. What led you down this path?
Petra: I received a request from a high-fashion brand that was opening a new store in Munich city centre. They needed three calligraphers to write personalised cards for the guests on site. When they called me, I was quite surprised at first, as I had nothing to do with calligraphy at the time. I am curious by nature and accepted the challenge. I prepared intensively for a week and did nothing but try out different fonts. I was then selected at the casting. That's when I realised that famous people were queuing up and waiting for me to write something for them. That was very special.😀
After my first accidental commission, I decided to specialise in calligraphy. I looked for really good teachers in Italy, England and Switzerland and immersed myself in the subject.
Since then, I have discovered calligraphy as a new passion for myself and have turned my profession into my hobby: I work for a wide variety of brands, do my own freelance projects, give workshops and teach at universities.
I later found out by chance that a friend had recommended me to the client of my first job in a snowy ski hut. So: Fake it until you make it!
What does a typical day in your life look like?
Petra: So I'm either working on commissions for clients or on my own projects. I usually start work at 9 a.m. in my studio at home - and well dressed. 😀
A typical day then starts with answering emails, making offers or looking after my Instagram. Sometimes I also do training courses, which I then study for. It's a real luxury for me to be able to organise my day freely. The decision as to when I do which jobs, when I work on my projects or enjoy the sun is entirely up to me.
Do you plan your projects?
Petra: I plan my freelance work by deciding in advance which format and which materials I will work with. I always have precise specifications for my commissions. I like the mix of these two areas and love the appreciation I receive in my profession.
What does writing do to you?
Petra: Writing is very meditative for me and always brings me down. The sound of the scratching pen and the movement of the hand triggers a sense of calm in me. But there are also days when I can't write at all because I'm too full of energy or I've had a bad day. On these days, I never work on assignments where I can't make any mistakes. I prefer to write small cards or work for myself. I can bring in all my emotions and moods, which totally grounds me.
What are your favourite materials to work with?
Petra: What I do a lot is create my own tools. I make them from all sorts of things, from nature or my household, and let myself be surprised by the traces they leave behind. This gives my typefaces a very individual touch.
I actually only buy paper, ink and occasionally tools such as nibs or brushes. I often have a local connection to these. I've been to Seoul and Beijing, where the brushes simply have a completely different quality. When I hold them in my hand, I immediately have a very special feeling.
What themes can be found in your art?
Petra: Language and literature are of course always present in my work. I have a collection of words and sayings that I come across, but sometimes they come to me spontaneously. While dancing, for example. Circles are also a recurring theme in my paintings; for me it is a connection to dance, as well as to the earth and the universe.
What do you do besides calligraphy?
Petra: I've been dancing tango for 3 years, which is also a kind of creative expression for me. I do it a lot, probably four times a week. In my youth I did competitive ballroom dancing. Dance is simply mine. The energy comes from the movement and the rhythm then comes back into the calligraphy, especially when I work freely. I love music and also enjoy working with music.
Another little passion of mine is stones. My name means ‘stone, rock’ in ancient Greek. You see them everywhere in my studio. I've just started climbing, inspired by my boyfriend, and I'm completely out of my comfort zone. First I started bouldering and then, after a few times in the climbing gym, I quickly took to the rock. I'm a complete beginner and it rocks. I simply realise that I can trust myself to do much more than I think and how great it is to go beyond my limits. And that's the same in art, in tango and in climbing. Here, body and soul come together. A feeling of freedom, thoughts come to rest. Just being.
Do you have a project that you will never forget?
Petra: Yes, I had to write an article for ‘Die Zeit’ like a letter in poster format. That was a big challenge in a short space of time.
Firstly, I sent them various writing samples. The text was about craft, but also the difficult aspects of it, and they wanted my text to recognise that. That craft is also work. And I was able to show that well with my pen, you can see the places where the pen spreads, where the ink is sometimes more, sometimes less on the paper. The job was really beautiful.
How do you see calligraphy in the future, also with regard to AI?
Petra: The AI is still struggling with handwriting at the moment, especially when it comes to free handwriting. Agencies have already asked me to fill in several alphabet templates with my handwriting so that they can feed their AI with it. I generally refuse to do that.
There are now calligraphy robots, so I sometimes worry about that. But a lot of my jobs are about the personal touch. Sitting in a stylish setting and writing personalised cards by hand for clients while talking about calligraphy is something special. My clients attach great importance to genuine craftsmanship because that is their trademark and their signature. AI and robots don't fit into their philosophy - and that's a good thing.
Visit Petra and us on Instagram.
We look forward to seeing you!
