Ernst Bröcker ART

Ernst Bröcker is a multidisciplinary creative with experience in storytelling for film, stage, television and marketing. 2020 marked the start of an epic journey of self-actualisation and a deep desire to create in a more tangible medium and led to the rekindling of a lifelong friendship with lino cutting and printmaking. Ernst was first introduced to the art of lino printmaking when he attended The Frank Joubert Art & Design Centre (now known as The Peter Clarke Art Centre, Newlands, Cape Town) from 1998 – 2002.

Ernst’s artworks are playful and whimsical with a strong focus on narrative, capturing a single moment of time for the viewer to explore - what happened before? And what happened afterwards? Ernst focuses on a specific point of tension, and challenges themes of binary thinking. Hesitant to describe artworks to viewers, Ernst leaves clues in his titles to guide the viewer’s imagination, but ultimately prefers to leave the story open to their interpretation. 

Working without a traditional etching press, Ernst Bröcker prints every lino piece entirely by hand using a felt-lined blackboard eraser to transfer ink onto paper. This hands-on technique requires precise pressure control—lighter for delicate lines, heavier for bold shapes — ensuring a level of craftsmanship that can’t be replicated, making each print truly one of a kind.