Thomas Häfner

Thomas Häfner (* December 24, 1928, † 1985) was a painter of Fantastic Realism. He was a member of the group Young realists who was formed in the mid-1950s in Dusseldorf.

As the son of artist Herbert Häfner and the Jewish painter Ilse Häfner -Mode, he was placed by his uncle Heinz Mode relations for his safety during the Second World War in Ceylon, where he lived from 1938 to 1948. He then returned to his mother 's sake, who had survived 1945 forced labor in the labor camp Elves from September 1944 until the end of March, to Germany and studied at the Art Academy in Dusseldorf.

In addition to his many paintings Haefner also created bronze sculptures and jewelry. Like his paintings, these were marked by a somber tone. Memories of his childhood in Ceylon determined his style, for the fantastic and surreal depictions of human figures, hybrid creatures and masks were characteristic.