IT’S NOT A TRICK. IT’S A SONY
The artwork “It’s not a trick. It’s a Sony.” renders the iconic Walkman as a delicate line drawing in shades of blue. Buttons, belt clip, cassette window, and arrow appear with blueprint clarity, summoning the era when music became truly portable. Minimal form, maximum memory: a private soundtrack carried through city noise, trains, and summer nights. The playful title nods to the famous slogan, honoring engineering finesse, pop culture, and the tactile magic of analog sound. “It’s not a trick. It’s a Sony” is part of the art series “Blue in a Square”, which includes 300+ artworks.
Little big thing.
The Walkman hit like a bomb. It was the object of desire for an entire generation. The iPhone of the early 80s was called – Walkman. And if you could afford it, it was of course by Sony. I know the whole story of the Walkman very well, because there was a strong connection to Sony. But what truly creates the fascination is the conflict the Walkman triggered. Because as much as it conquered the hearts of the younger generation, it was rejected by the older one. The Walkman was a visible line of separation from the parents’ generation. It was a sign of identification for a new generation. One that no longer wanted to listen. No longer wanted to obey. With a Walkman on your ears, you stepped out of the world of parents and elders – which drove them absolutely mad.
So the Walkman is more than just a product. It is identification and separation between generations. It draws a precise line between future and past. Often it was simply worn. Displayed. Taken along. I remember that it often didn’t even fulfil its actual purpose of playing music.
With the Walkman, Sony unintentionally created a musical companion on the path away from the conservative and towards the progressive. Wearing a Walkman in public was a visible statement. There was something provocative in it. Something mild. Something that was not considered appropriate. Until it arrived in the middle of society. Then the magic was gone. Then it lost that special position in public.
It was the portable pioneer and trailblazer for everything that followed.
The artwork “Walkman” is part of the art series on positive memory culture of the 70s, 80s and 90s – the Boomer generation. And the series is also dedicated to all those who worship the 80s. Many of these objects of desire from that time are depicted in the series. You can put together your own selection thematically according to your preferences, interests and inclinations. This series radiates its positive energy just as much in private spaces as in professional environments, or in hotels, gastronomy, restaurants, law firms and all other rooms where people like to surround themselves with positive impulses.
Keynography Art
Keynography Art is a new digital art form founded by Christof Hintze, with no AI being used or applied, created in Apple Keynote—originally a presentation program. Through the precise interplay of complex stencils, masks, lines, and many layers and shadows, shapes, depth, and spatial effects are built up—like a collage, but entirely digital. The result feels like a graphic relief: clean, detailed, and surprisingly three-dimensional, even though it is made from simple Keynote elements. More about it in my bio…
Artwork Details
Canon fine art inkjet print on high-quality Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 g/m². The artwork format can be freely selected: from a minimum of 20 × 20 cm up to a maximum of 120 × 120 cm. Mounted on 2 mm Alu-Dibond, with a white wooden frame and shadow gap. Price/offer upon request, depending on size and quantity.
Artwork – Recommended retail prices (RRP):
From the minimum size of 20 cm × 20 cm: €819.00 incl. VAT
From the medium size of 70 cm × 70 cm: €999.00 incl. VAT
Up to the maximum size of 120 cm × 120 cm: €1,399.00 incl. VAT
All prices, sizes, and variations are listed in the catalogue.
